The 411 on Vape or E-Cigarette Explosions

Over the years, cigarettes have gotten a bad reputation. As smoking started to become taboo, a new and supposedly safer alternative known as e-cigarettes or vape started to surface. A vape (or e-cigarette) is an electronic nicotine delivery system that produces a heated vapor, resembling smoke. They were introduced in the United States in 2007. Now, more than 2.5 million Americans are using them.

Regardless of whether a vape is a healthier alternative to regular cigarettes, it definitely has other characteristics that make it dangerous. E-cigarettes have their own tarnished reputation – not just because of their health dangers, but because of their capability to explode and cause serious burn and other injuries.

How Does a Vape Work?

E-cigarettes, or vapes, have a heating element used to vaporize a liquid solution, sometimes called “juice.” Some of these devices activate the heating coil automatically when you take a drag. Other vapes are manual. A battery pack, typically a cylindrical lithium-ion battery, provides the energy that is used to generate the heat.

Lithium-ion batteries are made with alternating layers of metallic anode and cathode material separated by a porous film. The porous separator film has a liquid electrolyte that can be flammable or combustible. An overheat of the batteries can cause the flammable electrolyte to explode.

Common Causes of Vape Overheating

Some common causes of a vape or cigarette overheating include:

• Overcharge of the battery
• Puncture
• External heat
• Short circuit
• Internal cell fault

According to the U.S Fire Administration, from 2009 to 2014, there were about 25 reports of explosion and fires involving e-cigarettes. These explosions reported serious injuries, including serious burns. The list has continued to grow in 2015 and 2016.

E-cigarettes are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Due to this lack of regulation and the relative newness of the devices, there is still some information that is unknown regarding their use.

E-Cigarette Popularity Amongst Teens

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conducted a survey that found vaping to be widely popular among teenagers. The survey found the use of e-cigarettes among middle school students increased from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent in 2014 and increased from 4.5 percent to 13.4 percent among high school students during that same period.

The CDC has warned parents of the dangers, potential risks, and the likelihood of addiction to the e-cigarette devices. Parents should also be warned about the likelihood of injuries caused by potential explosions of the device.

Do I Have an E-Cigarette Lawsuit?

The Law Offices of Samer Habbas is currently accepting e-cigarette induced injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured by an exploding or otherwise defective e-cigarette or vape, you should immediately consult with our attorneys for a free case consultation.

For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our lawyers, please call us at 888.848.5084.