/ 21 December 2004

Customs office kicks up stink over fart bomb

The Hong Kong customs office on Tuesday kicked up a stink over what it called a ”fart bomb toy”, describing it as unsafe.

The small silver metallic bag, showing a cheeky boy with his trousers down emitting a cloud that reads ”boom”, contains a powdered sulphur compound and a small plastic bag of diluted acid.

The customs office said the package gives off a ”disgusting smell”, as well as up to 20mg of hydrogen sulphide, when pressed.

”Hydrogen sulphide may cause nausea, headache, breathing problems as well as eye irritation. Exposure to a high concentration of hydrogen sulphide could cause acute intoxication,” the customs office said.

It urged parents to stop children playing with the toy.

The office recently seized 263 bags of the toys, which are made in mainland China, and has banned retailers from selling them.

Offenders could be fined HK$100 000 (R73 600) or face up to two years in jail. — Sapa-AFP