Road De-Icing Brines Identified as Seasonal PFAS Source in Municipal Runoff

Researchers have shown that PFAS pollution in local water systems comes from winter road treatments that wash down storm drains when it snows

Saturday, September 6, 2025 - A recent environmental study has found that road de-icing brines, which are often used in the winter to keep roads from getting icy, are a seasonal source of PFAS pollution in municipal runoff. These brines often have industrial leftovers or additives in them, like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are called "forever chemicals" because they stay in the environment for a long time. When snow melts and rain washes treated roadways, these chemicals get pushed into storm drains and eventually into rivers, lakes, or groundwater systems that are close by. The effects are huge because being around PFAS has been connected to a lot of health concerns, such as cancer, hormone abnormalities, and problems with the immune system. Scientists are finding more and more that even well-meaning public safety measures, like keeping roads safe in the winter, can hurt the environment in the long run. This kind of pollution hasn't gotten as much attention as other industrial pollutants. One health researcher said that the rising body of data tying PFAS to significant illness is similar to how slowly people have come to understand other concerns, such as the cancer risk from water contamination, which took years of lawsuits and research to fully reveal. Environmentalists argue that PFAS brines could be the next hidden health risk that leads to a warning about cancer from drinking water.

The U.S. Geological Survey says that PFAS has been found in runoff collected after snowmelt episodes in places that utilize chemical de-icers. Some of these brines are generated with wastewater or industrial waste that already has PFAS in them, although the products don't necessarily say so. Cities that buy de-icing products may not know that they are putting dangerous chemicals into the environment without meaning to. When snow and ice melt, the water that runs off falls immediately into storm drains, many of which link to bodies of water or recharge aquifers. These stormwater systems are not meant to filter out chemical pollutants like wastewater treatment plants are. Researchers say that this cyclical rise in PFAS levels could make local waterways far more polluted, especially in the winter months when they are used the most. Municipal governments are starting to look into what the de-icers they buy are made of, but it's hard to find items that include PFAS because there are no federal labeling regulations. Public health experts are telling local governments to convert to PFAS-free solutions, but many communities still can't afford or find better options. Legal experts think that this seasonal PFAS intake could make current water pollution cases more complicated and create new types of liability, especially in areas where drinking water supplies downstream are affected. Residents and environmental groups are asking for better testing and openness to keep an eye on PFAS migration during and after winter storms until stricter rules are put in place. Finding PFAS in de-icing brines is another illustration of how contemporary conveniences can hide health and environmental problems that we didn't mean to cause.

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