Water and powder are fine to fete with – once they are being used responsibly.

"We have no problem with people using water and powder for Carnival – it's not against the Carnival regulations to use them, if one acts responsibly," ASP Joanne Archie said on Monday in a telephone interview with the Express.

Deliberately throwing water (or any liquid) or powder in somebody's face or eyes can get you arrested and charged for assault, she said.

Under the Public Holidays and Festivals Act, Carnival Regulations 3:1 (c) states: "No person shall during the period of Carnival – throw any substance, matter or thing likely to cause damage, injury or discomfort."

Powder has been an almost integral of Carnival, but has taken an even more popular turn this year with soca superstars Machel Montano's "The Fog" and SuperBlue's "Fantastic Friday" featuring powder prominently.

Otorhinolaryntologist (ear-nose-throat or ENT specialist) Dr Austin Trinidade also allayed fears of any dangers from inhaling all that powder. In a telephone interview with the Express, yesterday, Dr Trinidade said powder – in this case baby powder or talcum powder – was "pretty harmless", although inhaling it could potentially irritate the nose and lungs. Irritation can also occur if the powder gets into eyes. Dr Trinidade advised that people with known allergies or sensitivity to powder should avoid parties where powder would be used in large amounts.

"Baby powder is made for babies, so it is relatively harmless. As far as I know there is no evidence that powder can cause any danger," he said.