Black snow falls from the sky in Siberia, and it's toxic
By Brandon Specktor
/ Livescience.com
A pall of eerie black snow has covered several towns in the Siberian region of Kuzbass, which is home to 2.6 million people and one of the world's largest coal fields.
According to the Guardian and the Siberian Times, the snow is tainted with toxic black coal dust that was released into the air from open coal pits and improperly maintained factories in the region. One coal plant official told the local media that a shield meant to prevent coal powder from escaping out of the factory had malfunctioned — however, toxic black snowfall seems to be a regular phenomena in the area and it isn't necessarily tied to a single source. [The Frozen North: Stunning Images of Russia from Above]
"It's harder to find white snow than black snow during the winter," Vladimir Slivyak, a member of the non-profit environmental action group Ecodefense, told the Guardian. "There is a lot of coal dust in the air all the time. When snow falls, it just becomes visible. You can't see it the rest of the year, but it is still there."
Kuzbass (short for Kuznetsk Basin) is one of the largest coalfields in the world, spanning more than 10,000 square miles (26,000 square kilometers), according to Britannica.com. A 2015 report from Ecodefense found that the citizens of Kuzbass have an average life expectancy 3 to 4 years shorter than the Russian national average and have nearly twice the risk of contracting tuberculosis and childhood mental disorders.
Black snows like this one are a frequent winter feature in the region, the report found, and mitigation attempts have been… lacking. For instance, in December 2018, regional authorities were accused of trying to hide the toxic black stuff by literally painting over it with white pigment, the Moscow Times reported.
Siberia, which would be the world's largest country by size if it were a sovereign nation, is no stranger to bizarre environmental disasters. In July 2018, a Siberian factory town was drenched in a red "blood rain" when improperly stored industrial waste was caught up in a storm. Later that month, a mysterious wall of dust blacked out the sun for 3 hours in Yakutia, a region that contains some of the coldest cities in the world.
According to the Guardian, several British groups have proposed boycotting Kuzbass coal until the region enacts stronger environmental protections, The simple fact is, however, that there's no great way to make coal use environmentally friendly. Even if black snow isn't falling in your part of the world, remember — carbon dioxide released by coal plants remains a leading cause of climate change.
First published on February 18, 2019
Livescience.com. All rights reserved.
Twitter, Snap CEOs to be invited to international "fake news" hearing
They're on a list that includes a dozen of the world's most powerful tech leaders, including Apple's Tim Cook, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg
updated 38M ago 
Sailor in iconic 1945 Times Square kiss photo dies
CBS News reunited George and Greta in 2012 at the spot of their kiss for just the second time since that day in 1945
1H ago 
Widow shares text message her husband sent during shooting
Josh Pinkard among five victims killed in mass shooting at manufacturing warehouse outside Chicago
1H ago 
McCabe: Rosenstein considered asking Comey for advice after firing
Former acting FBI director says after Trump dismissed James Comey, the deputy attorney general was concerned about the future of the Justice Department's Russia investigation
2H ago 
Trump slams "treasonous" McCabe after explosive interview
The president also expressed his disapproval with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
2H ago 
McCabe: Rosenstein considered asking Comey for advice after firing
Former acting FBI director says after Trump dismissed James Comey, the deputy attorney general was concerned about the future of the Justice Department's Russia investigation
2H ago
Trump slams "treasonous" McCabe after explosive interview
The president also expressed his disapproval with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein
2H ago 
Trump policies met with scrutiny and confusion on world stage
The Munich security conference was a backdrop to growing tensions between the U.S. and its Western allies
3H ago 
EU states say taking ISIS recruits back "not as easy" as Trump thinks
Mr. Trump has demanded that EU states take back ISIS recruits for trial, but European nations' reactions have been mixed
4H ago 
North Carolina's elections board holds hearing on ballot fraud allegation
The hearing will include the results of an investigation into allegations that a political operative tampered with mail-in ballots in a rural county
4H ago 
Black snow falls from the sky in Siberia, and it's toxic
A pall of eerie black snow covered several towns in the Siberian region of Kuzbass, home to 2.6 million people and one of the world's largest coal fields
updated 2M ago 
Preserving the sounds of rare Stradivarius violins
In Cremona, Italy, the birthplace of Antonio Stradivari, an ambitious recording project aims to immortalize some of the finest musical instruments ever made
1H ago
Twitter, Snap CEOs to be invited to international "fake news" hearing
They're on a list that includes a dozen of the world's most powerful tech leaders, including Apple's Tim Cook, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg
updated 38M ago 
Poland accuses Israeli official of "racist" remarks, bails on summit
Jerusalem summit collapses after acting foreign minister says Poles "collaborated" with Nazis, "sucked anti-Semitism with their mothers' milk"
1H ago
Trump policies met with scrutiny and confusion on world stage
The Munich security conference was a backdrop to growing tensions between the U.S. and its Western allies
3H ago 
Preserving the sounds of rare Stradivarius violins
In Cremona, Italy, the birthplace of Antonio Stradivari, an ambitious recording project aims to immortalize some of the finest musical instruments ever made
1H ago 
Jussie Smollett: Timeline of alleged hate crime on "Empire" actor
The alleged attack of "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett has sprawled into a three-week saga of confusing reports and contradictions
9H ago 
NYPD investigating commander accused of telling officers to shoot 50 Cent
"The matter is under internal review," the NYPD spokesperson told CBS News
20H ago 
The colorful history of pink
Originally a symbol of the aristocracy, the color's later association with gender stereotypes would leave some seeing red; yet pink has become embraced by activists as representing power that cannot be ignored
Feb 17 
Dionne Warwick: A singular voice
Over a six-decade career, she's made all her own songs that generations have swayed to, sobbed to and loved to
22H ago
Black snow falls from the sky in Siberia, and it's toxic
A pall of eerie black snow covered several towns in the Siberian region of Kuzbass, home to 2.6 million people and one of the world's largest coal fields
updated 2M ago
Twitter, Snap CEOs to be invited to international "fake news" hearing
They're on a list that includes a dozen of the world's most powerful tech leaders, including Apple's Tim Cook, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg
updated 38M ago 
Facebook "misled" Parliament on data misuse, U.K. committee says
CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said the company learned of the breach from journalists, but a new report questions that
6H ago 
Amazon threatens Philadelphia over plan to ban cashless stores
Bill that would require businesses in the city to accept accept cash could derail Amazon Go expansion
Feb 15 
GM now in the electric bike business
Detroit automaker initially plans to launch two-wheeled vehicles in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands
Feb 15 
FDA approves device to treat heart defect in tiniest babies
Smaller than a pea, the device from Abbott can be implanted in premature babies weighing as little as 2 pounds
Feb 15 
Depression may speed brain aging, research suggests
Researchers say they've found clues that depression may worsen cognitive decline
Feb 15 
How effective is this year's flu shot?
New data from the CDC estimates the effectiveness of this year's flu vaccine
Feb 14 
Could diet soda raise a woman's stroke risk?
New research looks at the possible connection between diet sodas or artificially sweetened fruit juices and heart health
18H ago 
Duchess shines light on dangers of osteoporosis
Camilla, 71, opened up about her late mother Rosalind, who died of the bone disease in 1994
Feb 14
Twitter, Snap CEOs to be invited to international "fake news" hearing
They're on a list that includes a dozen of the world's most powerful tech leaders, including Apple's Tim Cook, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg
updated 38M ago 
Employer-paid student loan repayment help could be coming
A bipartisan bill would let companies contribute up to $5,250 tax-free annually toward workers' student loan debt
2H ago 
U.S. could face new trade battle over car tariffs
Commerce Department set to rule on whether foreign auto imports threaten national security
4H ago 
Southwest Airlines faces an "operational emergency"
In a memo obtained by CBS News, the airline called for all hands on deck, and warned that maintenance employees could face termination for unexcused absences
3H ago
Facebook "misled" Parliament on data misuse, U.K. committee says
CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said the company learned of the breach from journalists, but a new report questions that
6H ago 
Widow shares text message her husband sent during shooting
Josh Pinkard among five victims killed in mass shooting at manufacturing warehouse outside Chicago
1H ago 
Police searching for man seen on video assaulting gay man
Video shows suspect asking victim if he's gay and when told he is, hitting him outside Salt Lake City bar
6H ago 
Chicago police want to speak to Jussie Smollett again
"Empire" actor claims he was victim of racially charged, anti-gay assault but sources say he paid accomplices to stage the assault
4H ago 
Synagogue vandalized in NYC as people inside observed the Sabbath
About 15 people, including children, were at the synagogue during the early Saturday incident in East Williamsburg
8H ago 
Suspect charged in triple murder at California bowling alley
Reginald Leander Wallace faces three counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon
13H ago
