Ecigs Could Put Smokers in Danger of Burns, Injuries

An Arkansas couple believes consumers could be facing a serious safety threat from exploding ecigs.

A report by local station KNWA says Josh S. suffered broken teeth, severed lips and burns on his hand, mouth and throat after his Fu Chai Mechanical Mod e-cigarette exploded in his face.

Josh says he purchased the e-cigarette only two weeks before, in hopes that it would help him quit smoking. He says he simply put the e-cigarette to his lips and pressed the button, and it suddenly burst into flames.

The explosion happened while Josh was at home. Josh’s wife Cindy says she was headed to meet Josh in their garage when she heard a noise like a gunshot and saw flames shooting out of the garage. She says she found Josh in the garage, doubled over and gasping for air.

Josh was able to get medical treatment for his injuries, but he has been unable to work while he recuperates.

Dozens of other e-cigarette smokers have also been the victim of explosions like the one Josh suffered from. Explosions have led to burns and other injuries not just to the persons using the e-cigarette but also to other persons nearby.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has recorded 134 incidents of the batteries in ecigs exploding, catching fire or overheating between 2009 and the beginning of 2016. More than 50 people were injured in these incidents.

In half of these reports, the explosion caused property damage beyond the destruction of the e-cigarette itself.

Ecigs Batteries Could Be the Problem

Cindy and Josh believe the e-cigarette’s battery could be the cause of the explosion. Some consumer advocates agree with that theory.

The rechargeable lithium-ion batteries used in ecigs pack a lot of power into a tiny space. They can be sensitive to extremes of temperature. Over- or under-charging can also increase the risk of an explosion.

Some of these batteries are built with more safety features than others. Consumer advocates say the more cheaply-made batteries may be more prone to exploding.

Aggravating the problem is the fact that many of the cheaper e-cigarettes and batteries are manufactured overseas. Some foreign countries don’t hold these manufacturers to the same regulatory safety standards they would have to satisfy in the U.S.

Persons harmed by exploding e-cigarettes may also have a hard time holding a foreign manufacturer liable in an e-cigarette lawsuit.

A representative for one e-cigarette manufacturer blames these explosions on the e-cigarette users themselves.

Ray Story, the CEO of the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, says the explosions happen because users mishandle batteries, according to a report from CNN.

Carrying an e-cigarette battery loose in a pocket with other metal objects like change or other batteries can cause a short-circuit, which Story says can cause an explosion.

The FDA has scheduled a public workshop for this coming April to seek more information about this epidemic of exploding ecigs. The agency began regulating ecigs last year, but its regulations do not cover all types of devices. E-cigarettes have also been banned from checked baggage on U.S. flights.