Number
183-EN
Section
General Section
Use
Sector
Agriculture, forestry, fishery
Other
Function
Other
Process
Non industrial spraying
Product category
Anti-Freeze und de-icing products
Application
Deicing of trees
Abstract
An experiment in a Danish municipality showed that de-icing with potassium formiate is less stressful for the trees along the roads compared to de-icing with sodium chloride.
Substituted substances
Sodium chloride
CAS No. 7647-14-5 EC No. 231-598-3 Index No.
Chemical group
Sodium compounds; chlorides
Alternative Substances
Potassium formate
CAS No. 590-29-4 EC No. 209-677-9 Index No.
Chemical group
Potassium compounds; carboxylic acid salts
Reliability of information
Internet information: data are from an internet document and only a basic and partial evaluation could be performed
Reason substitution
other toxic effects
Hazard Assessment
Substance to be substituted: Sodium chloride is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). Alternative substance: Potassium formate is not listed in the SUBSPORTplus Database and has no harmonised classification according to Annex VI of Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP Regulation). The alternatives and the substance to be substituted are not included in the database of hazardous substances according to SUBSPORTplus screening criteria (SDSC).
Description of Substitution
The Danish municipality in Copenhagen has carried out an experiment using the two different de-icing agents. They experienced significant larger leaves on trees standing next to roads where the alternative potassium formiate was used for de-icing compared to trees standing next to roads where sodium chloride was used. The size of leaves is an indicator of how the trees thrive and the experiment suggests, that the treesare less stressed by potassium formiate. Sodium chloride destroys the trees by either sucking liquid directly out of the branches and buds or by penetrating into the soil and pack it so tightly that the trees have difficulties to absorb water and nutrients. At the same time it goes through the roots up the tree and destroys it from within. The alternative is a salt of formic acid, which contains potassium and thus may act as a fertilizerfor the trees. This effect needs to be examined more closely. In addition to stressing the trees less, another advantage of the alternative is that it is less corrosive on the metal elements compared to sodium chloride. Disadvantages of potassium formiateare not fully examined yet and the following areas should be scrutinized further: 1. how the alternative affects the pH of the soil which seems to be increased, 2. how the alternative reacts with oxygen in fresh water - whether or not it increases oxygen consumption, 3. if potassium prevents the trees from absorbing magnesium because the potassium content of the soil is already very high compared to the magnesium content. Moreover the alternative is about 20 times more expensive as sodium chloride.
Case/substitution evaluation
The article does not give any information on difference in the effect of de-icing between the substituted substance and the alternative. The alternative seems to be less harmful to the environment but more harmful to the health.
State of implementation
Pilot study
Date and place of implementation
2011, Denmark
Enterprise using the alternative
Availability ofAlternative
On the market.
Type of information supplier
User
Type of publication and availability
Article freely available in Danish
Publication source
Type of publication and availability
http://videnskab.dk/miljo-naturvidenskab/alternativt-vejsalt-ser-ud-til-redde-traeerne
Date, reviewed
November 26, 2021