Mysterious white substance on the ground this morning

I was wondering if anyone else noticed a white powder-like substance on the ground on this morning's commute. It seems to have been blown there by the wind. I noticed it mostly in the grass and close to the curbs.

Is it safe to breathe? Will it harm plants? Who does one report it to?

Thx.

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Permalink Reply by notoriousDUG on January 23, 2013 at 12:28pm

Cocaine

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on January 23, 2013 at 12:32pm

yeah...dug is right. and if you keep staring at it you will surely go blind...

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi on January 23, 2013 at 12:32pm

I think I see bits of it on the roof of the Cook County Building/City Hall. No idea how it could have gotten there.

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on January 23, 2013 at 12:38pm

Yes, I noticed it on the roofs before heading out. I think we're talking about the same thing.

You say you see this downtown? I had assumed it came from the industrial area south of my home.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

I think I see bits of it on the roof of the Cook County Building/City Hall. No idea how it could have gotten there.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi on January 23, 2013 at 1:00pm

Well, it is Wednesday and Wednesday is City Council day, so maybe what is downtown is something emanating from the City Council. Might be worse than something coming from the industrial area.

h' 1.0 said:

Yes, I noticed it on the roofs before heading out. I think we're talking about the same thing.

You say you see this downtown? I had assumed it came from the industrial area south of my home.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

I think I see bits of it on the roof of the Cook County Building/City Hall. No idea how it could have gotten there.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 23, 2013 at 1:20pm

Weather Jeopardy for 200 pts - What has our Chicago winter been missing?

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 23, 2013 at 1:21pm

Might be smelly either way. ;)

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

Well, it is Wednesday and Wednesday is City Council day, so maybe what is downtown is something emanating from the City Council. Might be worse than something coming from the industrial area.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi on January 23, 2013 at 1:35pm

Now it is falling on the ledge outside my window.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein (5.5 mi) on January 23, 2013 at 1:40pm

Sounds like ash from a volcano. Where is the closest one to Chicago?

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio 6.5 mi on January 23, 2013 at 1:42pm

I have heard that volcanic ash can travel thousands of miles . . . .

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Permalink Reply by Dovah Cat on January 23, 2013 at 2:35pm

I spent the morning with a friend from India who had never encountered this substance before. He told me it is "like god has really bad dandruff". Makes sense.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on January 23, 2013 at 2:43pm

Or God really likes powdered sugar-covered donuts.

Dovah Cat 10 mi said:

I spent the morning with a friend from India who had never encountered this substance before. He told me it is "like god has really bad dandruff". Makes sense.