E-Cigarettes: An Explosive Topic

Since their entry into the U.S. marketplace in 2008, electronic cigarettes (a.k.a. e-cigs) have grown in popularity. E-cigs are battery-powered devices that heat a combination of nicotine, propylene glycol, and glycerin to form a vapor that the user inhales—and come in a wide variety of flavors. People can get their nicotine fix by “vaping,” while avoiding the smoke and carcinogenic elements of conventional cigarettes. However, e-cigs pose their own set of health risks, possibly leading to cardiovascular issues, respiratory distress, eye irritation, and harm to babies developing in the womb, to name a few. In addition, 70–90 percent of e-cig users continue to smoke conventional cigarettes. Since e-cigs are relatively new to the marketplace, there are no long-term studies to draw upon concerning heart and lung health or cancer-causing potential.To top it off, the e-cig device itself may be hazardous to one’s health. The liquid nicotine is heated via a lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries pack a lot of energy into a small unit; they’re energy dense…and volatile. If a battery is defective and/or overheats, it may burst into flame or explode. E-cigs are cylindrical in shape, with the weakest structural points at the ends, which can prompt them to rocket into a user’s face, or someone else’s in the vicinity. In 2015, first-degree burns to the face, eye injuries, knocked-out teeth, fractured facial bones, and even fractured vertebrae resulting in paralysis were reported as a result of exploding e-cigs.Bottom line: be cautious if you’re an e-cig user, and if you happen to suffer an injury as a result of a defective e-cig, be sure to contact Corradino & Papa, LLC to discuss your situation.