Some people hail vaping being a safer replacement for cigarettes, arguing that there’s no tobacco smoke, so it’s reached be safer. It remains to be noticed if that’s true, and there is a few evidence how the stuff inside vapes and e-cigs is toxic. But beyond that, there’s the simple fact these things occasionally blow up.
You hadn’t heard about this? Some pretty gruesome reports are starting to pile up. In November, a guy in Colorado broke his neck, lost some teeth, and suffered burns and facial fractures when his e-cigarette exploded. A 15-year-old California boy lost half twelve teeth in the similar mishap last month. In Tennessee, another teen is recuperating from the severe burns caused whenever a vape starter kit caught fire in the pocket several weeks ago.
Statistics outlining exactly how prevalent this can be remain thin, however the Federal Emergency Management Agency, of things, identified 25 cases of electronic cigarette explosions in the US between 2009-2014. However, that list is located only on incidents reported from the media. Given that vaping’s seen a surge in popularity since then-just last year, the CDC reported a 3-fold increase among middle- and school students alone-the telephone number certainly is rising. A fast Search on the internet shows a minimum of twelve explosions in 2015 alone.
As an alternative to burning tobacco, vape pens and e-cigs make use of a small lithium-ion battery to heat an aerosol cartridge to discharge a vapor that’s inhaled. As in any device which utilizes lithium-ion batteries, you can run into problems when the battery is damaged or exposed to extremes in temperature. A brief circuit could cause battery to overheat, catch fire, and even explode. These issues tend to appear in cheap consumer gadgets which are quickly churned from factories. All in all, it’s relatively rare, but obviously it takes place-recently, in hoverboard scooters.
“With lithium-ion batteries in general, once you operate one outside its safety window, there’s a tendency where things may go wrong,” says Venkat Viswanathan, who teaches mechanical engineering Carnegie Mellon University. That window is startlingly small: Viswanathan says batteries are the best kept between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s February, and all sorts of but four US states are averaging temperatures below 50 at this time.
In some cases, the problem is compounded by cheap lithium-ion batteries that “don’t hold the luxury of employing sophisticated management systems,” Viswanathan says. That can bring about dangerously over- or under-charged batteries. Dendrite is another potential problem. Dendrite is a conductive filament that can form throughout boxmmod charge/discharge cycles, especially if the battery is rapidly charged. This stuff can spread similar to a weed, eventually bridging the electrodes and causing a short circuit. “You have basically something similar to gasoline in your lithium-ion battery,” Viswanathan says, “so immediately it catches fire.”
Lithium-ion batteries power a great deal of gadgets of course, and often do so without trouble. But such things as cellphones and laptops and electric vehicles typically are produced to exacting specifications and rigorously tested, both from the company and outside experts. The Smoke-Free Alternative Trade Association, which represents for vape-makers, said it “cannot speak with user error or on behalf of a manufacturer for device” and, “If you have truly a concern by using a specific device, much like a lap top or cellular phone manufacturer, that company should go ahead and take appropriate action.”
And to be fair, it’s not unusual for users to change their vape mod box, and any number of websites offer guidelines on how to do exactly that. The business trade group duly notes that hacked and modded devices can pose a safety risk.
All of which begs the question what, if anything, will be done about this. Most regulatory discussions about e-cigarettes and vapes focus on the Food and Drug Administration’s critique in the chemicals in the devices. The FDA is about to introduce rules regulating the business, a move that could classify electric cigarettes and vaping products just like tobacco. Products would carry warning labels, sales to minors will be banned, and you’d see restrictions on things like offering free samples. But little has been said about the safety of the devices.
The Smoke-Free Alternative Trade Association says it supports “reasonable science-based regulations,” but opposes everything that might “stifle innovation.” However it argues “e-cigs and vapor goods are technology products, separate and distinct from combustible tobacco.” They liken these people to electronic products.
That’s where things get tricky. Asked when it has any safety concerns concerning the devices, the individual Products Safety Commission deferred on the FDA, saying it is the federal regulator in charge there. The FDA does claim responsibility for ensuring the security in the parts inside the devices that happen to be used in the consumption of cigarettes and tobacco products. But there aren’t a lot of safety rules for manufacturers to go by, along with the FDA is encouraging men and women to report any problems.
Viswanathan includes a recommendation for companies making what is sub ohm vaping and also other gadgets which use lithium-ion batteries: Crib from automakers making electric cars. They’ve developed sophisticated systems for minimizing the health risks of problems. “Lithium-ion batteries fundamentally are susceptible to catching fire,” he says, “and car makers have discovered efficient methods to create zones where these batteries are safe to function.”
Granted, the odds your vape pen will blow up like an exploding cigar are slim. Yet it is possible, so the best option is to purchase a top quality vape pen from the reputable manufacturer. Look into the parts-should they feel and look cheap, they probably are. Viswanathan suggests ensuring that it’s got some type of battery management system to prevent shorts and thermal runaway. Make certain you’re utilizing the right battery and charger, and don’t modify anything.