Road salt and organic additives affect mosquito growth and survival: an emerging problem in wetlands

The global increase in the application rate of road salts such as sodium chloride (NaCl) has led to concern about their negative effects on roadside habitats and freshwater ecosystems. To reduce the application rate of NaCl and minimize the ecological effects of road salts, transportation agencies are continuously seeking alternative salts such as magnesium chloride (MgCl 2) and organic additives such as beet juice and distillation byproducts. Yet, there is remarkably little information about how these road salt alternatives and additives affect aquatic communities, including their effects on mosquito populations. Nonetheless, understanding how anthropogenic factors such as road salts and salt additives affect mosquito populations could help minimize threats to human health, especially in urban environments. We used outdoor, freshwater mesocosms to experimentally investigate how the road salt MgCl 2 and two organic additives affect mosquito (Culex restuans) survival and emergence. Addit...