Plants might take up some of the excess sodium chloride in the place of the magnesium and potassium they also need, leading to nutritional deficiencies.
Plants suffering from high levels of soil salt concentration often cause damage to their roots. Symptoms include yellowed leaves with scorched edges; potassium deficiencies are common problem. Needles on every green trees may turn yellow or brown in the spring.
(Source: http://www.ehow.com/facts_7350144_happens-used-melt-ice-roads_.html)
Many of the people living in the south pacific islands lack the needed education and live in poverty. The technology is not so advanced there either.
Answer:
smaller political units maintaining their sovereignty
Explanation:
Confederation is the name given to a country that is a federation, but the states that make up that country maintain their sovereignty, separate from the power of the federal government. In this case, to maintain a confederation it is essential that the smaller political units, the states, maintain their sovereignty. This is different from a federation, because in a federation, states lose sovereignty, transferring it to the federal government.