The Surprising Reason To Not Let Your Kids Eat Snow
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – In a new warning to parents, researchers are urging guardians to not let their children eat snow, regardless of how clean it may look.
The study found this is especially the case in urban areas with more air pollution.
Researchers say that snow absorbs the toxic and carcinogenic components coming from vehicle exhaust. This, with the interaction between pollutants and cold temperatures, can cause new compounds to be released.
The study found that snow removed pollutant particles from the air. After just sixty minutes, the chemicals that the snow obtained from the exhaust increased significantly.
Some of the compounds found can be detrimental to an individual's health, researchers say.
This happens when particles exit the cooler system of an exhaust into a colder setting, the temperature gradients means the aerosols are removed by the colder surfaces, researchers say.
Turns out it's not just the yellow snow you need to avoid these days.