Exploding E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes are designed to resemble conventional cigarettes, but are touted as a healthier alternative. From 2009 to January 2016, the Food and Drug Administration identified 134 US incidents of E-cigarette batteries overheating, catching on fire or exploding. In the 134 incidents from recent years, more than 50 people were injured, and at least 67 of the incidents involved property damage beyond the e-cigarette itself. “Some events have resulted in life-threatening injury, permanent disfigurement or disability, and major property damage. 

An article featured in the June 2016 issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, examines the oral hard and soft tissue injuries resulting from an E-cigarette explosion. In the article the authors emphasize that the damage suffered will require multiple procedures to reconstruct the lost tissue, and to re-establish functional and cosmetically acceptable results. In addition, surgeries to repair the damage will involve substantial time and cost expenditures.

According to the Surgeon General E-cigarette use poses a significant – and avoidable – health risk to young people in the United States. Besides increasing the possibility of addiction and long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health, e-cigarette use is associated with the use of other tobacco products that can do even more damage to the body. Even breathing e-cigarette aerosol that someone else has exhaled poses potential health risks. Visit the surgeon general site for more info https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html