The dissemination of information associated with scientific achievement serves to advance research and guide future experimentation. In the sphere of environmental science, such advancements aim to better characterize harmful chemicals and the factors that influence in situ toxicity, which is central to the protection of the environments upon which humans depend. While some information regarding the dangers associated with common anthropogenic contaminants reaches wider audiences, the nuance of this information is often lost, potentially leading to ineffective solutions, specifically as it relates to nonpoint source contamination. Bridging the divide between scientific research, regulatory implementation, and product innovation is imperative in order to find meaningful and lasting environmental solutions. Road de‐icing salts are applied to impervious surfaces to protect human health and maintain the efficient transportation of goods by roadways during winter months. The toxicity of these salts in freshwater ecosystems is well understood and researched within the scientific community. Tentative regulations and solutions developed to mitigate the environmental damage caused by road de‐icing salts, however, perfectly represent the disconnect between the scientific community and the general public. Here, we use road de‐icing salt as an example of how such a disconnect can manifest in the form of ineffective solutions and regulatory standards, and we present a general framework by which environmental scientists can more effectively bridge the gap between the scientific community and society at large. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:415–420. © 2020 SETAC

中文翻译：

---

弥合科学与社会之间的信息鸿沟：非点源污染的解决方案？

与科学成就相关的信息的传播有助于推进研究并指导未来的实验。在环境科学领域，这种进步旨在更好地表征有害化学物质和影响原位的因素毒性，这对于保护人类赖以生存的环境至关重要。尽管有关与常见人为污染物相关的危险的某些信息已吸引了更多的听众，但这些信息的细微差别常常会丢失，从而可能导致无效的解决方案，尤其是与非点源污染有关的解决方案。为了找到有意义和持久的环境解决方案，必须弥合科学研究，法规实施和产品创新之间的鸿沟。道路除冰盐可用于不透水的表面，以保护人体健康并在冬季月份保持通过道路的货物有效运输。这些盐在淡水生态系统中的毒性在科学界内已得到很好的理解和研究。为减轻道路除冰盐造成的环境破坏而制定的暂行法规和解决方案完全代表了科学界与公众之间的脱节。在这里，我们以道路除冰盐为例，说明这种脱节如何以无效的解决方案和监管标准的形式表现出来，并且我们提出了一个总体框架，环境科学家可以借此更有效地弥合科学界与整个社会。Integr环境评估管理2020； 16：415-420。©2020 SETAC