Vapor Cigarette Can Explode Without Warning

 Anyone using a vapor cigarette should be aware of the dangers of the devices possibly exploding.

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that more than 2.5 million Americans use vapor cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes).

E-cigarettes are powered by lithium-ion batteries that heat an aerosol cartridge that releases vapor as the user inhales.

E-cigarettes have become popular because they are sometimes accepted in “no smoking” areas because the devices release vapor and not smoke.

When the vapor cigarette batteries malfunction or overheat, the devices can explode with no warning.

The media reported 25 incidents of explosions or fires involving a vapor cigarette between 2009 and 2014. Of these occurrences, nine injuries were reported, including two serious burns.

Most of the explosions happened while the battery was charging, but a vapor cigarette can explode any time, even while in use.

Vapor Cigarettes Explode with No Notice

A North Carolina man lost an eye after his vapor cigarette exploded three years ago.

“As I put it up to my face, I hit the plunger, and as soon as I hit the plunger, it exploded,” said Christopher R.

He lost vision in his left eye immediately, and the battery landed on his chest, where it burned through three layers of clothing.

Christopher was treated at a local burn center where he received skin grafts on his chest. He was also fitted with a prosthetic eye.

Those in close proximity to a vapor cigarette explosion can also be in danger.

A 14-year-old girl was burned while riding on the Harry Potter ride at Universal Studios in Orlando when a nearby college student’s vapor cigarette exploded.

Tucked into a college student’s pocket, the device exploded and sent a ball of flame into the air. The girl was taken to a hospital and treated for mild to moderate burns.

The ride’s seat was left with a small burn hole in it, but no other damage to the ride was reported. The college student quickly departed and was unable to be found after the incident.

A man outside a nightclub in Toulouse, France suffered second-degree burns when his vapor cigarette exploded in his pocket, engulfing him in sparks and flames for several seconds.

The explosion, captured on video, resembles a firework going off in the man’s pocket.

Poorly Made Batteries and Chargers Increase Risk

Vapor cigarettes run on small lithium-ion batteries that are sensitive to extreme temperature changes. They must be kept between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. If exposed to temperatures above or below that recommendation, malfunctions can occur.

The vapor cigarette industry is not regulated. Cheaply made batteries and chargers can increase the risk of malfunctioning.

A well-made lithium-ion battery has a miniscule risk of failure because of safety mechanisms built from within. Cheaper batteries do not include these precautionary protections.

“The electrolyte inside the battery is basically the equivalent of gasoline,” said Venkat Viswanathan, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. “So when these batteries short out, there’s a surge of heat that causes this flammable electrolyte to combust and explode.”

If you have been injured by a vapor cigarette explosion, you could benefit from a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers.