Tests: Yellow snow in Siberia was colored by dust

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Elements of soil were found in the yellow snow fallen in Tomsk Region. Experts of a chemical laboratory say that the snow acquired a yellow and orange color because of dust taken by the wind from Central Asia, head of Tomsk chemical laboratory Nina Sakhanovskaya told a REGNUM correspondent.

According to her, when expert in the laboratory were given samples of the color snow, they understood it was most possibly dust taken by the wind from another region. “Dust can be transferred by the wind at the height of 20-30 km,” Nina Sakhanovskaya said.

The hydro-meteorological center found out that there was a dust storm in Central Asia, and dust particles were taken by the wind to Western Siberia, Tomsk and Omsk regions, Khakasiya, Krasnoyarsk and Altai territories.

The head of the laboratory said that tests confirmed that no radioactivity or heptyl (rocket fuel) was found. “The snow is absolutely harmless for humans,” she said.

On January 31, snow colored from light yellow to orange and with oily slicks and musty smell fell in five districts of Omsk Region (Russia). Under preliminary reports, the territory covered by the colored snow is about 1,500 square kilometers. 1,200 households are located in the territory, where about 28,000 people live. Besides, the color snow was found in Tyumen and Tomsk regions.