OK, we’ve all done it before. You’re outside playing as a kid—or maybe even as an adult—and the snow is white, fluffy and…tasty looking. So, you grab a fistful in your glove and drop it in your mouth. Tastes good and is even a bit refreshing. End of story, right?
The Web site ecollo.com says, “Wait a minute.” While snow can be a good source of water, eating it directly can be harmful. Why? Because snow is cold. Eating or drinking something so cold, the Web site says, can prove harmful because it could lower your body temperature and possibly cause hypothermia.
In addition, if you do eat snow, make sure it’s pure white. Any hints of red or orange, they say, can mean the presence of bacteria. It’s probably good to stay away from yellow-tinted snow, too.
Others suggest that snow can contain pollution and dirt gathered from the sky as it falls to the earth. The cleanest snow, according to some, is in Antarctica, as the continent is the farthest away from large cities and plants where pollutants can affect the snow.
As with many things, it seems that using common sense is your best bet. Grabbing a handful of snow while out playing with the kids in the yard and eating it probably isn’t going to be too harmful. But if you’re eating large quantities of snow or are eating snow that contains dangerous pollutants or bacteria, then you will want to take precautions and eliminate your intake.
Related posts:
- Heavy Snow and Spring Flooding
- Air Pollution and Its Effects on Water
- The Effects of Agricultural Chemicals in Your Water
- Pollutants 101
