The winter months delight us with a large amount of snow, inspiring not only active recreation but also experiments, including the attempt to taste snow. However, experts emphasize that the safety of such fun depends on the location where you are.
This is reported by Finway
The Impact of Ecology on Snow Safety
Dr. Sarah Crockett notes that in ecologically clean areas, a small amount of snow or ice consumed during a walk poses no health threat. However, in cities or near industrial zones, there is a significant risk of contamination – snow absorbs various harmful impurities and particles from the atmosphere as it falls. This is because snowflakes have a larger surface area and settle more slowly than raindrops, thus accumulating more harmful substances.
“Snow, as well as rain and other atmospheric precipitation, cleans the atmosphere. Particles absorb pollutants as they fall. In this process, snowflakes absorb much more impurities than droplets because they fall more slowly and have a more open surface.”
Snow that falls in the vicinity of factories or coal power plants is particularly dangerous, as it may contain significant amounts of toxic substances. Doctors recommend consuming snow only in regions where there are no large industrial enterprises.
When to Collect Snow and Popular ‘Snow’ Recipes
It is also worth considering the timing: the first snow usually contains more solid particles and pollutants. If you plan to use snow to prepare, for example, the popular “snow cream” (a mixture of snow with milk, sugar, and vanilla) or “sugar on snow” (hot maple syrup on snow), it is better to wait for the second wave of snowfall when the air is already partially cleaned.
Despite the creative culinary ideas gaining popularity on TikTok, medical professionals warn that even in safe regions, one should avoid snow that has been lying on the ground for a long time or looks suspicious.
In extreme situations when there is no access to drinking water, doctors caution that the body expends a lot of energy melting snow in the mouth, which can lead to hypothermia. The hydration provided by snow in such cases is minimal and cannot replace clean water. Therefore, even during active outdoor recreation, it is advisable to melt snow to obtain liquid rather than eat it in its pure form.