health
March 11, 2026
Peak interest: Toronto’s snow mountains that refuse to melt are a toxic hazard
Reaching up to 100ft, these massive piles contain tonnes of salt that keep roads clear – but pose environmental risks
TL;DR
- Toronto has created large "snow mountains" by removing snow from its streets, mixing it with toxic substances like road salt, antifreeze, and oil.
- These mountains can reach heights of nearly 100ft and are melted using "industry melters."
- The melting snow releases significant amounts of salt into waterways, with chloride levels found to be lethal to a majority of aquatic species in tested sites.
- Increased salt usage is expected due to climate change-induced severe storms, posing long-term environmental risks.
- It would take years to decades to flush the salt out of soils and groundwater, even if salt application stopped immediately.
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