Cause of 'yellow rain' found to be pollen: weather agency

[bananas]

Source: Kyodo News

The ''yellow rain'' seen Wednesday in the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo was caused by pollen, not radioactive materials as many residents had worried, the Japan Meteorological Agency said Thursday.

The agency received more than 200 inquiries Thursday morning about yellowish residue left on roofs and elsewhere by the rain, stirring concerns that radioactive substances had fallen after accidents caused by the March 11 quake and tsunami at a nuclear power plant around 220 kilometers northeast of Tokyo.

According to the Environment Ministry, large amounts of air-borne pollen were seen in the Kanto region and they fell with the rain on Wednesday.

A health official at the Tokyo metropolitan government also said there is a possibility that the rain contained radioactivity but not at a level to have had adverse effects on people's health.

Read more: http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/80675.html

[rfranklin]

1. I thought it was more of those"trickle down" economics...

You know, where the Republicans tells us its raining while they piss on our heads.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[unc70]

6. Then you would freak out every spring in NC

Everything gets a thick yellow coating of pine pollen. Pollen particles are too big to affect allergies, but the pines are really messy.

[Nitram]

2. don't drink the yellow rain

[AlbertCat]

4. was caused by pollen, not radioactive materials

Unless, of course the pollen was radioactive.....

[WatsonT]

5. Yeah, we get that every spring

Not such a big deal here.

But I guess over there people are a bit more jumpy.

Stupid trees, keep it in your pants ok?

[Zorra]

7. That article was kind of scary because it was so short and contained no

background information.

[DearAbby]

8. Oh come on....

It's never happened before, but just by coinkindinck it happens now, pollen. (why am I not believing this??)