Kids love to taste, even a snow. I really like eating snow too, but wait a moment. This winter, I thought a little and questioned my old behaviour. What if polluted air particulates mix with snow? the particles that cause cancer, for example. As far as I am aware of, there are carcinogenic particulates in the air and their life-time is long. So, is it really good to taste snow? and if not, when is it safe to eat snow?
As snow falls from the sky, it traps and binds with air particles. The most common particles found out bound with snow are soot and other chemicals that are released by oil industries, coal and wood burning plants. Pesticides that have been in the air for a long period of time may also appear in the current snow. Researchers found out that, even 30, 40, 50 years old air particles, in several cities, are found in snow, even if the amounts are very low.
When is it safe to eat snow? It is better to wait for two or three snow falls. The first fall is not a guarantee that it removes the toxic particles in the air. In the second fall, few of the particles can be removed and the third fall is a guarantee that, at least, most of the heavy particles are removed from the air. It is generally true that the longer the snow falls, the lesser the pollution levels in the air, and hence less in the snow. But it is better to watch out the advected snow from industries and pesticide sites to the cities or the households. If the wind is blowing from the direction of the oil wells, coal burning plants and wood burning sites, then the snow should be avoided.
Which snow is better to eat? the one on the ground or intercepted from the air. Researchers found out that the snow on the ground contains more contaminants than the snow in the air, as the snow mixes with dirt on the ground. So, it is advisable generally to avoid eating snow from the ground. I personally, recommend capturing the snow with a clean tray, which is better than the snow ploughed from the ground.
Which snow is better, urban snow or rural? The urban snow can contain gasoline chemicals from exhaust from cars such as benzene, which is dangerous to health. The rural snow on the other hand, can contain particles from the pesticides used for farming. Therefore, both urban and non-urban snows are vulnerable to pollutants. Next time you feel to bite snow, consider researching the area around it, for example, whether there is any industry, or pesticides nearby.
While snow is the best thing that nature has provided us, we should be careful when we put it to our mouth, or should you 'enjoy it!'? Because the amount of particles are less in the snow, but most importantly, life is short or whatever!
As snow falls from the sky, it traps and binds with air particles. The most common particles found out bound with snow are soot and other chemicals that are released by oil industries, coal and wood burning plants. Pesticides that have been in the air for a long period of time may also appear in the current snow. Researchers found out that, even 30, 40, 50 years old air particles, in several cities, are found in snow, even if the amounts are very low.
When is it safe to eat snow? It is better to wait for two or three snow falls. The first fall is not a guarantee that it removes the toxic particles in the air. In the second fall, few of the particles can be removed and the third fall is a guarantee that, at least, most of the heavy particles are removed from the air. It is generally true that the longer the snow falls, the lesser the pollution levels in the air, and hence less in the snow. But it is better to watch out the advected snow from industries and pesticide sites to the cities or the households. If the wind is blowing from the direction of the oil wells, coal burning plants and wood burning sites, then the snow should be avoided.
Which snow is better to eat? the one on the ground or intercepted from the air. Researchers found out that the snow on the ground contains more contaminants than the snow in the air, as the snow mixes with dirt on the ground. So, it is advisable generally to avoid eating snow from the ground. I personally, recommend capturing the snow with a clean tray, which is better than the snow ploughed from the ground.
Which snow is better, urban snow or rural? The urban snow can contain gasoline chemicals from exhaust from cars such as benzene, which is dangerous to health. The rural snow on the other hand, can contain particles from the pesticides used for farming. Therefore, both urban and non-urban snows are vulnerable to pollutants. Next time you feel to bite snow, consider researching the area around it, for example, whether there is any industry, or pesticides nearby.
While snow is the best thing that nature has provided us, we should be careful when we put it to our mouth, or should you 'enjoy it!'? Because the amount of particles are less in the snow, but most importantly, life is short or whatever!
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