Effects of applying deicing salt to roads in protected areas: a preliminary study in the Bavarian Forest National Park

The negative effects of applying deicing salts to ecosystems are well documented for many countries. In some countries, the application of the deicing salts to roads in protected areas is prohibited by law. There is little detailed knowledge of the effects of deicing salts on ecosystems in the Bavarian Forest NP. The first preliminary study was conducted in 2011 and the first results are published in this paper. Nine permanent study sites were established and significant differences in soil chemical parameters among the different sites were recorded. The highest amounts of Na+ and Cl− ions were recorded at study site #4, which is located only a few meters from the bank of the Grosse Ohe River. Much higher concentrations of Na+ and Cl− ions were found at 10 meters from the road than at the road edge and it is assumed that this is due to long-term contamination from water accumulating from melting snow. There were also higher concentrations of salt ions recorded at other sites along the main road. It is important that trajectories of the mobility of ions, including seasonal variability and commutations of salt in ecosystems, should be studied in future.