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Fart lighting, fart-burning, and flatus ignition is the practice of setting fire to the gases produced by flatulence often producing a blue hue. Although there is little scientific discourse on the combustive properties of flatus -- perhaps because of its vulgar and juvenile nature -- there are many anecdotal accounts of flatus ignition, and the unique activity has increasingly found its way into popular culture with references in comic routines, books, videos and movies.

The act of fart lighting is performed by using a lit match or candle, or a cigarette lighter. So widespread is this activity that there are web sites on the Internet devoted exclusively to explaining proper lighting techniques. A major drawback of this popular practice is that it usually involves the hazardous coupling of fire, combustible gases and inebriated participants. Reports of serious burns to body parts are not uncommon, this being especially true when the participants remove their clothing.

Wearing pants -- e.g., thick cotton sweatpants -- is a good safety precaution. As with all fire stunts, cotton clothes (particularly if damp) are safer than synthetics. The fire point of cotton is 410°F, and it is hard to ignite accidentally. But many common synthetic fabrics, e.g., polyester fleece or nylon pants, can melt to the skin or catch fire.

Chemistry

The composition of flatus varies dramatically among individuals. Five simple odorless gases are their major components. Flatulence is a mixture of gases such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, hydrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen sulfide. The odor associated with flatus is due to hydrogen sulfide, skatole, indole, volatile amines and short-chain fatty acids. These substances are detectable by olfactory neurons in concentrations as low as 10 parts per billion. Hydrogen sulfide being the most odorous.

The gases are produced by bacteria which live in symbiosis within the large intestines of humans and other mammals . The gases are created as a by-product of the bacteria's digestion work to break down food into elementary substances.

Flammability

Because the methane and hydrogen present are flammable, lighting the resulting gas can result in burns or explosions as well as the desired flame. Clothing or hair may catch fire and sensitive tissues can be damaged. The flame is not always blue, but may be orange or yellow as well, depending on the composition of the gas and the microorganisms living in the colon.

Motivations

The Manly Art Of Fart-Burning. Compression, ignition, combustion and exhaust."

— Frank Zappa

Fart lighting has become a novelty practice primarily among young men or college students for decades, but is discouraged for its potential for causing injury. Such experiments typically occur on camping trips and single-sex group residences, such as tree-houses, dormitories, or fraternity houses. With the advent of video sharing features online hundreds of self-produced videos both documentary as well as spoof have been posted to sites such as YouTube and predominantly are from young males. In his book The Curse of the Self: Self-Awareness, Egotism, and the Quality of Human Life author Mark Richard Leary explains how a great deal of unhappiness is due to people's inability to exert control over their thoughts and behavior and that "stupid stunts" including lighting flatulence was a way to make an impression and be included in group bonding or hazing.

Serious injuries

The flammability of bodily gases has caused serious problems in the medical operating room and also in animal slaughterhouses. At least one patient is known to have suffered from the effects of an explosion while undergoing cauterization of a colon polyp. An electric spark ignited the patient's gases, resulting in a six-inch (15-cm) hole in the patient's large intestine. However, this was sewn up, and the patient recovered.

Comedy use

Many find a comedic value to the lighting of farts. The activity is often represented in pop culture and "for adults, the allure of the vulgar is regressionary and often secretly pleasurable."

See also

• Fraternity
• Goldfish swallowing
• Panty raid
• Phonebooth stuffing

References

1. TOY GAS FIRED MISSILE AND LAUNCHER ASSEMBLY - Patent number: 6055910 - Zanakis et al. - 1998 // Patents issued in the United States are public domain government information
2. Van Ness, M. M. and Cattau, E. L. (1985) Am. Fam. Practioner, 31;198-208.
3. Levitt, M. D. and Bond, J. H. (1978) in Intestinal Gas and Gastrointestinal Disease
4. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A673508
5. Slaven, Neil (2003, ISBN 0711994366). "Electric Don Quixote: The Definitive Story of Frank Zappa". Omnibus Press. Retrieved 2007-10-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
6. Dawson, Jim (1999). "Who Cut the Cheese?: A Cultural History of the Fart". Ten Speed Press, ISBN 1580080111. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
7. U. of California Press Web site Retrieved October 6, 2007
8. Barnes, Steve (2007). "On YouTube, you too can be a star". Santa Cruz Live. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
9. "Search Results for "fart lighting"". YouTube. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
10. Leary, Mark Richard (2004). "The Curse of the Self: Self-Awareness, Egotism, and the Quality of Human Life". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 2007-10-07.
11. The Straight Dope web site
12. Twitchell., J. (1992; p.52). Carnival Culture – The Trashing of Taste in America. Columbia University Press, New York. {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

• Videos of Fart Lighting on YouTube™
• Site devoted to fart lighting

• Flatulence
• Humor