Table 3.
Precipitating events of e-cigarette explosion burn injuries
| First author, year | Study location | Cases | Precipitating events |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anderson, 2017 | USA (Kentucky) | 1 | The e-cigarette exploded during use |
| Arnaout, 2017 | United Kingdom | 12 | Not specified |
| Bauman, 2016 | USA (Arizona) | 3 | One patient changed the e-cigarette’s battery and then put the device in his pocket, which contained car keys and coins. A different patient stated that his battery was over 1-year old, but he claimed to charge it correctly |
| Bohr, 2016 | Germany | 1 | The patient stated that the e-cigarette (tank style) contained nicotine-free e-liquid that was diluted with water |
| Cason, 2016 | USA (Alabama) | 1 | Not specified |
| Colaianni, 2016 | USA (Massachusetts) | 2 | The e-cigarettes exploded in both of the patients’ pockets |
| Gibson, 2018 | USA (Oregon) | 14 | Of the patients, 7 reported that the e-cigarette device itself exploded, the other 7 reported that a loose lithium ion battery exploded in their pockets |
| Goverman, 2016 | USA (Massachusetts) | 5 | Not specified |
| Harrison, 2016 | USA (South Carolina) | 1 | The patient charged the e-cigarette’s lithium-ion battery in a 120-volt outlet using an external charging device that was purchased separately from the e-cigarette |
| Harshman, 2017 | Canada | 2 | The e-cigarette exploded in the patient’s pocket, which also contained several coins |
| Hassan, 2016 | United Kingdom | 6 | All patients stored their batteries fully charged and close to other objects, including cell phones and coins |
| Herlin, 2016 | France | 2 | One patient had a battery and device (separate from each other) in his pocket that were touching metal keys |
| Jablow, 2015 | USA (New Jersey) | 1 | The patient denied any misuse of the e-cigarette and was not using it at the time of the explosion |
| Jiwani, 2017 | USA (Texas) | 10 | Of the patients, 7 had their e-cigarettes explode in their pockets, 1 reported a vaporizer explosion, 1 was using the e-cigarette when it exploded, and 1 reported that the e-cigarette exploded during a motorcycle crash |
| Kite, 2016 | USA (Virginia) | 1 | The e-cigarette (Lone Wulf Mechanical Mod cigarette) exploded in the patient’s hand |
| Kumetz, 2016 | USA (California) | 2 | One patient was using the e-cigarette when it exploded. The other patient had the e-cigarette explode in the pocket |
| Maraqa, 2017 | USA (Michigan) | 8 | All of the patients’ e-cigarettes exploded in their pockets |
| Nicoll, 2016 | United Kingdom | 2 | One of the patient’s e-cigarette battery was charged overnight and was not damaged or over-heated prior to the explosion |
| Paley, 2016 | USA (Missouri) | 2 | Both patients were using their e-cigarettes when they exploded. One of the e-cigarettes was a vapor pen |
| Patterson, 2017 | USA (Alabama) | 2 | One patient’s e-cigarette exploded in the pockets and the other patient’s e-cigarette exploded while being used |
| Ramirez, 2017 | USA (California) | 30 | Some of the patients stated that the battery came in contact with a metallic object |
| Rogér, 2016 | USA (New York) | 1 | The patient was using his e-cigarette when it exploded |
| Satteson, 2017 | USA (North Carolina) | 1 | The patient changed the battery of the e-cigarette (Dark Horse atomizer with a SMPL Mec Mod battery device), and then the device quickly heated and exploded |
| Schroeder, 2016 | USA (Pennsylvania) | 1 | The patient’s e-cigarette exploded in his pocket |
| Serror, 2017 | France | 10 | Of the patients, 8 had the e-cigarette exploded in their pockets, and 2 patients’ e-cigarettes exploded while being used |
| Shastry, 2016 | USA (California) | 1 | The patient denied misuse of the e-cigarette, and also stated he was paid to test products for an e-cigarette company, and that the cigarette he used was an experimental model that was customizable and large. The e-cigarette exploded while the patient was using it |
| Sheckter, 2016 | USA (California) | 3 | Each patient reported that their e-cigarette exploded in their pockets |
| Smith, 2017 | USA (Florida) | 10 | Of the patients, 1 reported pouring nicotine liquid into the e-cigarette when it exploded, 2 reported the e-cigarette exploded while they were driving, 6 reported the e-cigarette exploding in their pockets, and 1 reported the e-cigarette exploding in the hand |
| Toy, 2017 | USA (California) | 25 | Of the patients, 18 reported the e-cigarette exploding in their pockets |
| Treitl, 2017 | USA (Florida) | 3 | Each patient reported that their e-cigarette exploded in their pockets |
| Walsh, 2016 | United Kingdom | 1 | The patient reported charging his e-cigarette overnight and the battery being in contact with keys in his pocket when it exploded |