A Florida man was severely injured when an electronic cigarette he was smoking exploded.
A Florida man is reported to be recovering from injuries received after an electronic cigarette exploded in his mouth.
Tom Holloway, 57, of Niceville, FL, is recovering at a local burn center, following the explosion of the e-cigarette. Holloway was smoking the device on Monday night when it exploded, knocking out his teeth, burning his mouth and taking out part of his tongue.
One of Holloway’s neighbors spoke with ABC News affiliate WCTI, and said that the explosion sounded like a firecracker had exploded in the house. Chief Butch Parker of the North Bay Fire District described the accident in a similar fashion, saying that the explosion appeared as if Holloway had been holding a “bottle rocket in his mouth,” ABC News reported. Parker also said that the most likely cause of the explosion was a faulty battery inside the e-cigarette.
At this time, the brand of e-cigarette has not been identified, but Parker said that the battery appeared to be a rechargeable lithium battery, based on the presence of a recharging station in the study, where the explosion happened.
Holloway had stopped smoking real cigarettes two years ago, and had used the e-cigarette as part of his stop-smoking regimen.
In addition to knocking out his teeth and part of his tongue, Parker indicated that the explosion set fire to the study.
Electronic cigarettes are popular with many users, as they simulate the actual act of smoking, giving users the physical sensation of smoking, as well as taste and appearance. But, the devices are not currently regulated by the FDA, although the FDA did announce intent to regulate the devices as a “tobacco product” in April 2011. This lack of regulation has resulted in a lack of data regarding the safety or effectiveness of the e-cigarettes on the market today.
Those who favor FDA regulation say that distributors of e-cigarettes often make claims that are not only misleading, but are frequently aimed at the younger population. Some fear that using these e-cigarettes will actually increase the lure of real cigarettes for young people in the long run, i.e. they could become a “gateway” to smoking for youth.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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Comments
#1 E-cigarette is just a cigarette, nothing better
Just quit smoking people, that's the best advice. E-cigarette is no better. If someone is telling you that it is better, that means you are being marketed.
#2 Uncomfortable Truth
This is an age of reason. Everywhere anyone looks, they are being asked, told and forced to tolerate everyone who is not like they are.
Crying baby, tolerate it.
Different race/religion, tolerate it.
Overweight, tolerate it.
Smoker, not allowed to tolerate it.
And forbid trying to quit smoking with some device that looks anything like a cigarette. Use a patch or gum? What's the difference? they are nicotine too. Get off your high horse, take care of yourself and leave everyone else alone.
#3 Mind your business
Your comments provide clear evidence of your ignorance. Electronic cigarettes have been found to contain ZERO carcinogens.
I bet you're the first to preach tolerance for race, creed, etc but just let anyone try to smoke no matter how considerate they are for those around them and then the anti-smoking gestapo want to round folks up and crucify them. Get off your high horse and READ about the benefits of electronic cigarettes before you open your bigot mouth.
#4 Ceci n'est pas une pipe
E-Cigarettes are not cigarettes, plain and simple. In cigarettes, tobacco is burned producing smoke that contains particulates, CO, various other compounds including VOCs, as well as vaporized nicotine. E-Cigarettes vaporize a mixture of FDA approved food additives and nicotine at temperatures below their decomposition point using an electric element, the same principle as an oven or toaster. With the noted exception of Kool's new Menthol Chip flavor, there is a good chance that the ice cream you picked up at the store contains ALL the ingredients in an E-Cigarette, just without the nicotine. And you give that to your kids.
As far as the exploding goes, it was horrible but you will find similar batteries in cell phones and laptop computers and think about where you put those...