As cigarette smokers face an increasingly anti-smoking society, some are turning to electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) either as part of a smoking cessation program or an alternative means to get their nicotine fix. A 2011 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that about one in five smokers had used electronic cigarettes. VapeRanks.com reported that more than 3.5 million of these devices were sold worldwide in 2012, up from 750,000 in 2010.Proponents and opponents of e-cigarettes are at odds over the health risks of these devices, which are not yet regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to its website, the FDA regulates only those e-cigarettes ìthat are marketed for therapeutic purposes.î However, there may be another risk associated with e-cigarettes.E-cigarettes are rechargeable battery-operated devices that convert nicotine and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user. In November, KRDO reported that a Colorado Springs man blamed an e-cigarette for a mattress fire. In the report, Thor Hacker said he had been charging the e-cigarette battery. ìIt didnít stop chargingÖ it just exploded and shot flames onto the bed.îAn Internet search turned up numerous news stories from across the country about e-cigarette batteries igniting fires while being charged. WXYZ reported that a Warren, Mich., home was damaged when an e-cigarette battery exploded while charging in a household electrical outlet. A Sherman, Texas, man was injured when the e-cigarette battery he was charging in the USB port of his laptop computer exploded, according to KXII. A story from KVAL in Eugene, Ore., described a vehicle damaged when an e-cigarette battery exploded while being charged in the cigarette lighter.In an October interview with Chicagoís NBC 5 Investigates, Thomas Kiklas, who represents the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said, ìIím aware of 10 failures in the last year. When you charge them, they are 99.9 percent safe, but occasionally there will be failures.îU.S. Fire Administration statistics for smoking-related fires focus on traditional smoking materials. Information on the number of fires caused by e-cigarettes or their batteries is not readily available.Safety tips obtained from the websites of several electronic cigarette manufacturers include the following:
- Read the userís manual and follow all manufacturer instructions for charging e-cigarette batteries.
- Use only those batteries and charging devices/accessories recommended by the manufacturer.
- Do not over-tighten batteries in the charger.
- Unplug the charger when the battery is fully charged.
- Do not overcharge batteries.
- Do not leave batteries unattended while charging.
- Do not expose lithium-ion batteries to high temperatures, as they can rupture, ignite or explode.
