The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cigarette smoking causes around 480,000 deaths in the United States each year.
Conventional cigarettes pose a great risk to the lungs and heart of an individual. This has prompted many to turn toward e-cigarettes instead, which are considered less harmful than ordinary cigarettes.
E-cigarettes, also known as vaping pens, have become quite a rage among the younger generation, with more vape shops now scattered around the country.
Studies also suggest that vaping may considerably reduce the risk of developing cancer as well as lung and heart diseases. However, new reports indicate that vaping pens may be hazardous in their own way.
E-Cigarette Battery Explosion Issues
Reports reveal that the lithium-ion batteries housed inside e-cigarettes are prone to overheat and explode — causing severe injuries to some users and even leading to hospitalization in a few cases.
With the rise in popularity of these vaping pens, the incidents of battery explosion have also increased considerably. Some users have shared their horrific experiences with these devices and filed lawsuits against the manufacturers.
Scott Baker, a resident of Washington, is one such individual who faced a horrific accident when his vaping pen's battery exploded. He suffered third degree burns to his hip after the e-cigarette suddenly exploded inside his trouser pocket.
Baker claims that he was conducting a work meeting when he suddenly saw sparks flying out from his pocket. By the time he managed to extract the device, the damage had been done and a portion of his hip was already burned. Baker had to undergo skin grafts because of the severe burns.
Another e-cigarette user Sean Ritz, of Canton, underwent a similar predicament when his vaping pen's battery exploded. His e-cigarette was also inside his trouser pocket. Canton suffered third degree burns all the way down his leg. He had to spend four days in intensive care owing to the severity of the burns.
E-Cigarette: How Dangerous Is It?
Considering the large number of users, such hazards must be taken seriously to avoid similar accidents in the future. Proponents of vaping pens assure people that such accidents are rare, and the devices are generally safe to use.
"When used and charged properly, those lithium-ion batteries pose no more of a fire risk than other products that use other similar batteries," remarked Gregory Conley, the president of the American Vaping Association.
However, critics disagree with this statement and still feel that there is a general risk posed by such devices, largely because of volatile batteries.
