A rusted valve on a carbon dioxide tank was responsible for the loud popping sound and cloud of smoke that came from the company's bottling complex in Smith's yesterday morning, a spokesman said.

"Yesterday our carbon dioxide tank that had a rusted valve blow off,'' the spokesman said. "It caused a loud whoosh around 7.45 a.m. and went on until about 9.30 a.m.

"The tank produces carbon dioxide or the fizz that is found in our sodas. It has about 300 pounds of pressure.''