Russia says mysterious yellow snow not toxic

Moscow, Feb 3: Mysterious yellow snow that fell on parts ofSiberia earlier this week is not toxic, Russian emergency officials hassaid.

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 nothreat to people's health,'' Vladimir Gurzhei, a regional emergencyofficial yesterday, 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 raredust hurricane in neighbouring Kazakhstan. Alexei Yablokov of theRussian Academy of Science told Ekho Mosvky radio station it may havebeen polluted by an chemical accident in Siberia.

Reuters>