Some people hail vaping being a safer replacement for cigarettes, arguing that there’s no tobacco smoke, so it’s have got to be safer. It remains to be seen if that’s true, where there is a few evidence that this stuff inside vapes and e-cigs is toxic. But beyond that, there’s the very fact this stuff occasionally blow up.
You hadn’t heard about this? Some pretty gruesome reports are beginning to pile up. In November, a male in Colorado broke his neck, lost some teeth, and suffered burns and facial fractures when his electronic cigarette exploded. A 15-year-old California boy lost half a dozen teeth inside a similar mishap recently. In Tennessee, another teen is recuperating from the severe burns caused when a vape pen starter kit caught fire in the pocket several weeks ago.
Statistics outlining how prevalent this can be remain thin, however the Federal Emergency Management Agency, of all things, identified 25 cases of electronic cigarette explosions in america between 2009-2014. However, that list is based only on incidents reported through the media. Provided that vaping’s seen a surge in popularity since then-last year, the CDC reported a 3-fold increase among middle- and school students alone-the quantity almost definitely is rising. A brief Online search shows a minimum of twelve explosions in 2015 alone.
Rather than 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, it is possible to come across problems as soon as the battery is damaged or put through extremes in temperature. A shorter circuit may cause the battery to overheat, catch fire, or perhaps explode. These problems usually exist in cheap consumer gadgets that are quickly churned from factories. All in all, it’s relatively rare, but obviously it occurs-most recently, in hoverboard scooters.
“With lithium-ion batteries generally, once you operate one outside its safety window, there’s a tendency where things could go wrong,” says Venkat Viswanathan, who teaches mechanical engineering Carnegie Mellon University. That window is startlingly small: Viswanathan says batteries would be best kept between 50 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s February, and all but four US states are averaging temperatures below 50 at this time.
In some cases, the issue is compounded by cheap lithium-ion batteries that “don’t get 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 really a conductive filament that can form throughout boxmmod charge/discharge cycles, specifically if the battery is rapidly charged. These things can spread similar to a weed, eventually bridging the electrodes and resulting in a short circuit. “You have basically something equal to gasoline within your lithium-ion battery,” Viswanathan says, “so immediately it catches fire.”
Lithium-ion batteries power a whole lot of gadgets obviously, and quite often do so without trouble. But things such as mobile phone devices and laptops and electric vehicles typically are manufactured to exacting specifications and rigorously tested, both by the company and outside experts. The Smoke-Free Alternative Trade Association, which represents for vape-makers, said it “cannot talk to user error or for a manufacturer with regard to their device” and, “When there is truly a challenge having a specific device, just like a lap top or mobile phone manufacturer, that company should take the appropriate action.”
As well as be fair, it’s not uncommon for users to modify their vape box mod starter kit, and numerous websites offer easy methods to do just that. The marketplace trade group duly notes that hacked and modded devices can pose a safety risk.
Which begs the question what, if anything, is being done regarding this. Most regulatory discussions about e-cigarettes and vapes concentrate on the Food and Drug Administration’s critique of the chemicals found in the devices. The FDA is going to introduce rules regulating the business, a move that may classify electronic cigarettes and vaping products just like tobacco. Products would carry warning labels, sales to minors could be banned, and you’d see restrictions on things like offering free samples. But little is considered in regards to the safety of your devices.
The Smoke-Free Alternative Trade Association says it supports “reasonable science-based regulations,” but opposes something that might “stifle innovation.” Nevertheless it argues “e-cigs and vapor merchandise is technology products, separate and distinct from combustible tobacco.” They liken these people to electronic products.
That’s where things get tricky. Asked if it has any safety concerns about the devices, the customer Products Safety Commission deferred for the FDA, saying it is the federal regulator in charge there. The FDA does claim responsibility for ensuring the safety from the parts from the devices which are utilized in the consumption of tobacco products. But there aren’t plenty of safety rules for manufacturers to follow, and also the FDA is encouraging individuals to report any problems.
Viswanathan includes a recommendation for companies making what is rda vaping and also other gadgets which use lithium-ion batteries: Crib from automakers making electric cars. They’ve developed sophisticated systems for minimizing the risks of problems. “Lithium-ion batteries fundamentally are susceptible to catching fire,” he says, “and car makers have discovered efficient approaches to create zones where these batteries are safe to use.”
Granted, the odds that your vape pen will blow up like an exploding cigar are slim. But it is possible, so your best option is to buy a quality vape pen from a reputable manufacturer. Examine the parts-when they feel and look cheap, they probably are. Viswanathan suggests ensuring that it’s got some sort of battery management system to prevent shorts and thermal runaway. Ensure you’re using the right battery and charger, and don’t modify anything.