Salinization is an ongoing global threat, which is further exacerbated by population growth and climate change. Rising temperatures that increase evaporation rates and road salt use (due to milder winters), as well as increasing urbanization and associated wastewaters, agricultural practices, and resource extraction activities contribute to salinization in freshwaters, estuaries, and soils. Increasing ion concentrations can reduce biodiversity, alter ecosystem function, trigger a shift toward salt-tolerant freshwater species, and increase the risk of invasive estuarine species. Osmotic stress due to changes to ion balance can be a significant source of toxicity and can adversely impact the toxicity of other chemicals within contaminant mixtures. Over the past decade, the SETAC community has advanced research on major ion toxicity and its impacts on aquatic health and ecosystem function. To address the concerns surrounding salinization, three researchers from different sectors will discuss the ecological risk associated with road salt based on species sensitivity distributions, desalinization practices and aquaculture implications, and the management of transitional waters from a lagoon restoration project.