Russia says Mysterious Yellow Snow not Toxic
Date: 05-Feb-07
Country: RUSSIA
The emergency ministry has flown a chemical laboratory to the Omsk region in Siberia to investigate the matter.
"Yellow snow that fell on Omsk region two days ago poses no threat to people's health," Vladimir Gurzhei, a regional emergency official, told Interfax news agency. He said the snow was "yellow, with oily marks and a distinctive smell".
Omsk region is home to a number of oil and gas refineries. Domestic media debated what might have caused the anomaly.
Russia's weather watchdog said it may have been caused by a rare dust hurricane in neighbouring Kazakhstan. Alexei Yablokov of the Russian Academy of Science told Ekho Mosvky radio station it may have been polluted by an chemical accident in Siberia.