Yesterday evening, during my run, it was finally dry and relatively snow free roadside shoulder. The road were still nice and white due to the copious amounts of salt generously poured down from the trucks. I couldn’t help but notice the nice dust of white particulates that arose from passing vehicles and the taste of road brine as I ran through the cloud. It burned a little in my lungs.
-Anyone else experiencing this?
-Am I going to die from repeated exposure?
Winter bike riding here in Canuckistan you get used to the taste of road salt.
I’ve noticed that before as well where the roads are typically heavily salted in my area where I could taste it while running. Not sure what (if any) long term affects would be.
Why would you put salt on your roads? It’s for the margaritas and the chips.
Why would you put salt on your roads? It’s for the margaritas and the chips.
We Northerns are apparently heavy sweaters and need more electrolytes. Apparently the Department of Transportation feels the need to feed them to us through the air (I’m not optimistic it’s effective).
Why would you put salt on your roads? It’s for the margaritas and the chips.
Up here in Canada, we don’t need salt pills on our long runs…just breath the air in from the trucks passing by. I suppose I will have to take note that the Woodlands streets won’t have this “feature” in May and plan accordingly for some salt intake.
All kidding aside, I don’t particularly like that and am fortunate to be able to run neighbourhood street loops with no major traffic.
Yesterday evening, during my run, it was finally dry and relatively snow free roadside shoulder. The road were still nice and white due to the copious amounts of salt generously poured down from the trucks. I couldn’t help but notice the nice dust of white particulates that arose from passing vehicles and the taste of road brine as I ran through the cloud. It burned a little in my lungs.
-Anyone else experiencing this?
-Am I going to die from repeated exposure?
I deal with the same thing, and have a minor phobia about inhaling salt and dust from roads, diesel exhaust, etc. I don’t think it’s that dangerous, but still, I always run with sunglasses or clear safety glasses (cheap ones, from Home Depot). I also use a neck gaiter pulled up over my mouth and nose – not that it’s going to filter any fine particles. I also bought a stack of dust masks but when I run with these, my glasses fog up. Anyhow, lucky for me I don’t spend too much time on busy roads.
When I run in winter at night, with a headlamp, I can really see all the dust in the air that we’re breathing all the time – we just don’t notice it. So the body is equipped to deal with it. Just stay hydrated to keep the body’s natural mucus defenses going.
I doubt that inhaling it is entirely harmless, and it’s certainly could not be beneficial, so I do think it’s good to limit “exposure.” Protecting runners’ lungs is not high on the list of priorities for any of the municipal services that plow the roads.
It creates issues with my eyes too if I do not wear glasses. If you have the available resources I say get some micro-spikes and head out on the trails. I am heading out to mtn bike the snowmobile trails tomorrow night since they should be like concrete now from the rain and then deep freeze we have had in NH this past week. Lots of trails are nice and packed down for running too.
Here’s an excerpt from an article I found regarding hydro fracking waste disposal that concerned me. What are the long term effects of breathing this crap in?
Frack Waste on New York State Roads
In July 2011, The Ithaca Journal reported that several municipalities in New York have approved the use of wastewater from drilling for use in winter snow and ice clearing and dust management. The DEC approved permit conditions include provisions that the road spreading be done in a manner that minimizes the chances of the brine running off into streams, creeks, lakes and other bodies of water. However, it is extremely unlikely that this toxic brine will NOT flow into the water in these areas. This means that the DEC will have sanctioned exposure to contaminated wastewater without having done any serious health or environmental assessment.
Here’s an excerpt from an article I found regarding hydro fracking waste disposal that concerned me. What are the long term effects of breathing this crap in?
Frack Waste on New York State Roads
In July 2011, The Ithaca Journal reported that several municipalities in New York have approved the use of wastewater from drilling for use in winter snow and ice clearing and dust management. The DEC approved permit conditions include provisions that the road spreading be done in a manner that minimizes the chances of the brine running off into streams, creeks, lakes and other bodies of water. However, it is extremely unlikely that this toxic brine will NOT flow into the water in these areas. This means that the DEC will have sanctioned exposure to contaminated wastewater without having done any serious health or environmental assessment.
Yeah. That sucks if it’s true…for more than just our winter riding health as the dust gets into our cars, houses, clothes, shoes etc.
Don’t swallow… spit…