Snow may look clean, but it can contain pollutants

ST. LOUIS — Sometimes, freshly fallen snow looks good enough to eat. And there are plenty of recipes on social media using snow. But is it safe?

The VERIFY team in Missouri heard neighborhood kids talking about eating snow, and one warned it was full of pollution. We dug into environmental science to VERIFY it.

Is it true that snow contains pollutants?

• Dr. Michael Bisesi, Environmental Health Sciences, Ohio State University
• American Lung Association
• Nationwide Children’s Hospital Pediatrics Department

This is true. Yes, snow does contain pollutants, though the amount depends on air quality and environmental conditions.

Snow collects contaminants as it falls through the air. Dr. Bisesi said sources include vehicle and airplane exhaust, heating emissions, industrial processes, and natural fires. Snow can also pick up pollutants from the ground after it lands.

Both the American Lung Association and Nationwide Children’s Hospital say the amount of pollution in snow varies depending on how clean or dirty the air is. Urban areas generally have more polluted air than rural areas, so city snow is more likely to contain higher levels of contamination.

The 5 On Your Side VERIFY team checked pollution data for the St. Louis region. According to the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report, which uses Environmental Protection Agency data, St. Louis is ranked 17th in the U.S. for year-round particle pollution and 21st for ozone pollution. Ground-level ozone is a harmful air pollutant that affects what you breathe, not to be confused with the ozone layer high in the atmosphere.

Health experts say if someone chooses to consume snow, the safest options are:

• Freshly falling snow on less windy days
• Snow that is bright white
• Snow that has never been plowed
• Snow that has never touched the ground

We can VERIFY: True, snow does contain pollutants from the atmosphere.