Sujay S Kaushal, Gene E Likens, Paul M Mayer, Ruth R Shatkay, Sydney A Shelton, Stanley B Grant, Ryan M Utz, Alexis M Yaculak, Carly M Maas, Jenna E Reimer, Shantanu V Bhide, Joseph T Malin, Megan A Rippy
Author Information
Sujay S Kaushal: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Gene E Likens: Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA.
Paul M Mayer: US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Pacific Ecological Systems Division, OR, USA.
Ruth R Shatkay: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Sydney A Shelton: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Stanley B Grant: Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory, The Charles E. Via Jr Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Manassas, VA, USA.
Ryan M Utz: Chatham University, Gibsonia, PA, USA.
Alexis M Yaculak: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Carly M Maas: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Jenna E Reimer: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Shantanu V Bhide: Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory, The Charles E. Via Jr Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Manassas, VA, USA.
Joseph T Malin: Department of Geology & Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Megan A Rippy: Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory, The Charles E. Via Jr Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Manassas, VA, USA.
Increasing salt production and use is shifting the natural balances of salt ions across Earth systems, causing interrelated effects across biophysical systems collectively known as freshwater salinization syndrome. In this Review, we conceptualize the natural salt cycle and synthesize increasing global trends of salt production and riverine salt concentrations and fluxes. The natural salt cycle is primarily driven by relatively slow geologic and hydrologic processes that bring different salts to the surface of the Earth. Anthropogenic activities have accelerated the processes, timescales and magnitudes of salt fluxes and altered their directionality, creating an anthropogenic salt cycle. Global salt production has increased rapidly over the past century for different salts, with approximately 300 Mt of NaCl produced per year. A salt budget for the USA suggests that salt fluxes in rivers can be within similar orders of magnitude as anthropogenic salt fluxes, and there can be substantial accumulation of salt in watersheds. Excess salt propagates along the anthropogenic salt cycle, causing freshwater salinization syndrome to extend beyond freshwater supplies and affect food and energy production, air quality, human health and infrastructure. There is a need to identify environmental limits and thresholds for salt ions and reduce salinization before planetary boundaries are exceeded, causing serious or irreversible damage across Earth systems.
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