The Hidden Dangers and Burn Injury Risks of Electronic Cigarettes

Many people believe that electronic cigarettes are safer compared to conventional cigarettes. But even though e-cigs don’t combust tobacco the way the traditional tobacco cigarette does, these electronic products still pose dangerous burn injury risks. A troubling number of reports are surfacing showing how e-cigs can explode, causing facial and burn injuries.

The vapors of e-cigs are produced by heating a liquid, a process powered by a lithium ion battery. These batteries have already posed fire risks in other products, such as laptop computers. But the risk of a fire and potential explosion is higher in e-cigs due to the design of these products, according to Scientific American. The magazine notes that a 2014 report from the U.S. Fire Administration found that these devices’ cylindrical shape means that its weakest points are at its ends. These points are most likely to explode if the battery fails, the agency said.

A man in Albany, NY, found himself the victim of an exploding e-cig. According to CNN, the exploding device knocked out teeth, ripped a hole in his tongue, and caused burns to his hands. CNN also noted another incident involving an Alabama teenager whose e-cig exploded and sent the device’s hot battery into his face.

Representatives of electronic tobacco products are standing up for their products, saying that they are rare. The Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association said that when explosions happen, they are usually attributed to an e-cig’s charger. But regardless of the cause of the battery failure, an electronic cigarette poses a risk of explosion and fire. If you have experienced burns or other injuries from e-cigs, please contact us to learn more about your legal options.