Don't touch: Here's why brown snow fell from the sky in northern New England community

Don’t eat the snow: Brown snow falls over Maine town

RUMFORD, Maine (WJW) – Residents of a Maine town are being asked to avoid touching or ingesting the “brown” show that fell in the area.  According to a Facebook post from the Town of Rumford, the town was treated to a not-so-white pre-Christmas snowfall on Tuesday. Photos from Corbin Wardwell show the oddly colored snow.  Brother and sister killed in Euclid shooting According to the post, a paper mill malfunction led to the brown snow af…

Weird brown snow that irritates skin blankets small town and prompts warning

The discoloured snow has been caused by a chemical emitted from a century old paper mill and is non-toxic but can cause skin and eye irritation so it should be avoided

Rumford mill mishap causes discolored snow; residents advised to steer clear

Town officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon there was a release of spent black liquor which resulted in precipitation of brown or tan colored snow. Schools were asked to tell children not to play with 'brown snow.'

Don't touch: Here's why brown snow fell from the sky in northern New England community

Officials say there are health concerns and people are urged to avoid touching the brown snow.

Why brown snow is falling in a Maine mill town

Brown snow fell in Rumford after a malfunction at the ND Paper mill caused the emission of black liquor. The town office said about noon Tuesday that the emission of spent black liquor caused brown or tan snow to fall adjacent to the mill. That affected Falmouth, Cumberland and Waldo streets, the town said. Black liquor isn’t toxic, but the town warned that it can cause skin irritation because it has a pH of 10. “Although it is non-toxic it shou…