With thin, permeable skin, amphibians are capable of absorbing large amounts of substances from the environment. Sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and other treatments to prevent road ice may pose risks to amphibians, but the issue is largely understudied. MBN has been collecting instances of road salt poisoning to build a greater picture.

Excessive bloating. Frogs will be “ballooned” to potentially extreme levels, impeding movement.

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White discharge from the mouths of salamanders.

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Large die-offs of amphibians in roads with no other obvious trauma.

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