Catching snowflakes in your tongue is a childhood ceremony of passage, and currently, social media has revived curiosity in utilizing snow for all the things from snow cones to selfmade snow cream on TikTok. However is consuming snow really protected?
“In small quantities, underneath the suitable circumstances, sure,” says Sarah Crockett, MD, an emergency medication doctor at Dartmouth Well being in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
However earlier than you get out your ice cream scoop, there are some components it is advisable to think about.
Snow Is Lovely — However Not Sterile
As snowflakes type excessive within the environment, they develop round tiny airborne particles. As they fall, these intricate crystalline shapes act like nets, capturing materials from the air.
By the point snow reaches the bottom, it might carry traces of mud, positive soil particles, soot from automotive exhaust and industrial emissions, pollen, micro organism, fungal spores, hint metals, and even microscopic plastic particles, says Dr. Crockett. “Snow is gorgeous, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly not sterile,” she provides.
As soon as snow hits the bottom, there are extra dangers: Simply since you don’t see canine poop or chemical sludge close by doesn’t imply it’s completely absent. Animal feces specifically carries a threat of E. coli and different potential dangerous micro organism.
That doesn’t imply each chunk of snow is a threat to your well being. But it surely does imply snow needs to be considered like untreated environmental water that hasn’t been filtered or disinfected.
A useful approach to consider it’s to ask your self whether or not you’d drink from a rainwater puddle in the identical spot, says Sheldon Campbell, MD, PhD, a professor of laboratory medication at Yale College of Drugs in New Haven, Connecticut.
“If the reply is, ‘Ew, no,’ then it is best to apply that very same response to snow,” says Dr. Campell.
Is It Okay to Eat Snow If You’re Not in a Metropolis?
Theoretically, locations with extra air air pollution could have higher concentrations of contaminants within the snow crystals, says Campbell.
Cities and areas with heavy site visitors or business are inclined to have poorer air high quality than rural areas, which may have an effect on which airborne contaminants snow collects because it falls.
However the true threat occurs as soon as snow makes contact with the bottom, Campbell says. Snow can combine with filth, street salt, fertilizer, oil, animal feces, and different unsafe-to-ingest substances — even when it nonetheless appears white.
When It’s Most secure to Eat Snow — and When to Skip It
If it’s vital to you to style snow, be choosy and search out excellent snow.
“Follow pristine, white, undisturbed snow, and solely from the highest layer,” Crockett says.
By no means eat snow that’s been walked on or shoveled, plowed right into a pile, or sitting on the bottom gathering particles.
Colour issues, too. Watch out for the yellow snow for apparent causes: A canine or different animal has possible peed on it. You’ll additionally wish to keep away from snow that’s crimson, inexperienced, orange, grey, or black snow — which may sign air pollution, algae, or chemical contamination. “If the snow isn’t white, don’t take a chunk,” Crockett says.
Timing additionally issues. Snow that’s freshly fallen, inside an hour or two, is much less more likely to have combined with floor contaminants, Campbell says, although uncertainty stays even then.
For individuals who wish to be additional cautious, Crockett suggests placing a clear bowl outdoors to catch falling snow, which helps decrease floor contamination.
How A lot Snow Is Secure to Eat?
Snow, like water, is calorie-free — nevertheless it’s nonetheless finest to eat small portions, says Julie Zumpano, RD, a registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic.
Consuming an excessive amount of snow can really decrease your physique temperature. Should you’re staying out within the freezing chilly, that may be harmful and might contribute to hypothermia, says Crockett.
Who Ought to Keep away from Consuming Snow?
Consuming snow isn’t a good suggestion for individuals with a weakened immune system, says Zumpano. Snow can carry micro organism or fungi which are innocent to most individuals, however dangerous for individuals who are immunocompromised.
Is It Secure for Pets to Eat Snow?
Snow can pose the identical dangers to pets as to people, particularly canine which will ingest snow from roadsides or areas handled with salt or chemical substances.
“Many of the similar guidelines apply to pets: Keep away from discolored and contaminated snow — particularly in case you suspect that ice soften or street salt might have been used,” says Crockett.
Just a few bites of white, undisturbed snow from the highest layer is probably going protected, she says.
Consuming a Little Snow Might Be Good for Your Psychological Well being
For many wholesome individuals, consuming a chunk or two of recent, undisturbed snow might be not dangerous, says Campbell.
“You are able to do rather a lot riskier issues, like driving house on I-95 in heavy site visitors or consuming cookie batter that you simply simply combined up,” he says.
The best good thing about consuming snow is absolutely the enjoyment of it, says Crockett.
“Catching just a few flakes in your tongue could be a magical a part of winter play for youngsters and adults alike,” she says.
Time in nature helps psychological well being, reduces stress, and promotes well-being, particularly for teenagers, says Crockett. “Connection to nature isn’t only a childhood pastime. It’s a lifelong supply of resilience,” she says.
