Is Eating Snow Safe?

Everyone has heard "Don't eat yellow snow," but is any snow safe to eat? Freshly falling snow is a temptation to children and adults alike. Parents have been telling children for years not to eat snow because it is filled with dirt, pollution or just germs. With every snowflake, parents fear their children are taking their lives in their hands.

Snow formation

Snow is the precipitation of frozen water vapor. When enough water is present in the atmosphere and the temperature is low enough, snow falls instead of rain. The water condenses around minute objects in the atmosphere. Dirt, pollution and bacteria particles all act as hosts for snow formation. The newly formed snow circulates through the atmosphere collecting more frozen water and particles from the atmosphere, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Features

Because snow forms around particles in the air, people assume that snow falling in polluted areas is dangerous while snow in forests and rural areas is safe. This is incorrect. Air and pollution circulate throughout the upper atmosphere, so there will still be pollutants found in rural areas. Also, the pollution found in snow would be no more dangerous then the regular air we breathe.

Effects

According to the Canada Safety Council, the real danger in eating snow is the large amount of bacteria it contains. The CSC analyzed 20 samples of snow from around the world and found high bacteria levels in all samples. The most abundant bacteria was Pseudomonas syringae, a bacteria that causes diseases in beans and tomatoes. The amount of bacteria in snow is comparable to the amount of bacteria children are exposed to when they play in dirt.

Other Contaminants

Snow may carry other potential hazards. Some ski resorts make snow from reclaimed water that may not be safe for consumption. Snow may carry pesticides or toxins. As snow melts, it may form icicles. Icicles formed on old houses may contain lead or other heavy metals.

Considerations

Making a meal out of snow exposes you to excessive bacteria and potential hazards. Consumed in large quantities, snow can drop your core body temperature. Snow caught from the sky should not harm a child. Even fresh snow cones or other snow treats should not be harmful if, like other desserts, they are enjoyed in moderation.

References

• National Snow and Ice Data Center
• Brigham Young University Universe
• Canada Safety Council

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Eating Snow for Survival