Pennsylvania roads are being coated in radioactive wastewater − here’s why

Brine, a mixture of salt and water, is sprayed onto roads to prevent snow and ice from sticking or freezing to the pavement. Portland Press Herald Collection via Getty Images

Pennsylvania’s roughly 100,000 oil and gas wells produce wastewater that’s many times saltier than seawater and contains radium, a known carcinogen. For decades, that saltwater, called brine, was spread on dirt and gravel roads across the state to control dust and also on paved roads to melt ice.

The state Department of Environmental Protection halted the practice in 2018, but residents continue to report oil and gas brine being spread in their communities. Now, a permit issued by the Department of Environmental Protection in May 2026 could open a new path for oil and gas well wastewater to be sold as a commercial product that could be purchased by road maintenance operators or snow removal businesses.