page_title: Safety of electronic cigarettes
section_title: Fires, explosions, and other battery-related malfunctions
hierarchical_section_title: Safety of electronic cigarettes / Fires, explosions, and other battery-related malfunctions
caption_attribution_description: English: A line chart showing the number of e-cigarette fires and explosions versus e-cigarette sales in millions of US dollars.
context_page_description: The use of electronic cigarettes carries health risks compared to not using any inhaled recreational drugs, especially for children, young adults, and pregnant women. The risk depends on the composition of electronic cigarette aerosol, which varies according to the contents of the liquid, the physical and electrical design of the device, and user behavior. As of 2019, the long-term risks of vaping are somewhat uncertain because studies have yet to be performed on the relatively new technology, though the long-term risks of some individual substances in vaping aerosols and tobacco smoke have been studied.
  When used to deliver nicotine, vaping avoids several carcinogens usually found in tobacco smoke produced by cigarettes and cigars, such as ash, tar, and carbon monoxide. E-cigarettes reduce lung function, reduce cardiac muscle function, and increase inflammation, but to a much lower extent than with traditional cigarettes. Some hazards occur with vaping but not with smoking.
context_section_description: Most e-cigarettes use lithium batteries, the improper use of which may result in accidents. Most fires caused by vaporing devices are a result of the lithium batteries becoming too hot and igniting. Defective e-cigarette batteries have been known to cause fires and explosions. The chance of an e-cigarette blast resulting in burns and projectile harms greatly rises when using low-quality batteries, if stored incorrectly or was altered by the user. Inexpensive manufacturing with poor quality control could account for some of the explosions. It has been recommended that manufacturing quality standards be imposed in order to prevent such accidents. Better product design and standards could probably reduce some of the risks. It is recommended that users be informed of appropriate charging and storage methods. In the event the lithium ion substances leak from the battery as a result of an e-cigarette blast, first aid is recommended to prevent additional chemical reaction. An e-cigarette blast can induce serious burns and harms that need thorough and lengthy medical treatment particularly when a device goes off in hands, mouths, or pockets. A 2017 review found "The electrolyte liquid within the lithium ion battery cells is at risk for overheating, thus building pressure that may exceed the capacity of the battery casing. This "thermal runway" can ultimately result in cell rupture or combustion." Metal objects, including coins or keys, can cause a short circuit when kept with batteries, which can result in overheating of the battery. It is recommended to use insulated protective cases for batteries not in use to lessen the potential risk related to thermal runaway. Swallowing e-cigarette batteries can be toxic.
  The numbers of medical reports from harms resulting from vaping have continued to increase since 2016. Some batteries are not well designed, are made with poor quality components, or have defects. Major injuries have occurred from battery explosions and fires. Fires caused by e-cigarettes appear to be increasingly frequent. Direct harms from an e-cigarette blast include hand harms, face harms, waist/groin harms, and inhalation harms. Indirect harms happened when the vaporing device set on fire another object and resulted in a house fire, followed by harm from fire burns or inhalation. E-cigarette explosions have resulted in burns, lost teeth, neck fractures, and battery acid contact to the face, mouth, and eyes. The extent of the burns varied from 1% to 8% total body surface area, were reported and most commonly occurred in the lower extremity, hands, head and neck, and genitalia. The extent of the burn was mainly deep partial and full thickness. E-cigarette explosion harms correlated with malfunctioning of the device can result in minor total body surface area 2nd and 3rd degree burns. Around 50% needed surgical management for the burn. This was due to the extent of the injury. The most common harms are burns as a result of explosion in the pocket and harms to the face. A 2017 review found "Several of the reported cases show that 'the battery in pocket' precedes the incident. The damp environment in the pocket may have sufficient moisture to start a chemical reaction within the lithium-ion battery and the presence of metal objects can produce short-circuit which can over heat the battery leading to an explosion." Flame burns, chemical burns, and blast injuries have occurred as a result of the e-cigarette battery overheating. A man endured a unilateral corneoscleral laceration with prolapsed iris tissue and hyphemato to the eye area when an e-cigarette exploded in his mouth. A young man endured bilateral corneal burns to the eye area when an e-cigarette exploded near his chest. A man lost his life when his charging e-cigarette blew up and caught on fire next to oxygen equipment. House and car fires and skin burns have resulted from some of the explosions. The explosions were the result of extended charging, use of unsuitable chargers, or design flaws. There is a possible risk to bystanders from e-cigarette explosions. The
caption: Graphic from a July 2016 United States Fire Administration (USFA) report entitled Electronic Cigarette Fires and Explosions in the United States 2009 – 2016.[326] There has been an increase in the number of severe and moderate injuries resulting from e-cigarette explosions and fires since 2014.[326] The USFA noted that this appears to correlate well with the e-cigarette sales trend.[326]
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