is vaping a safety issue in an explosive atmosphere

by Rosie Marks Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago

Generally speaking, vapers who follow basic principles of battery safety are at low risk for e-cigarette fires or explosions. Aside from very rare defective batteries, most vaping battery thermal events and fires are caused by a few specific issues, all of which are easily avoidable.

Full Answer

Can vaping devices explode?

The reason why I put “vape” in quotation marks in the title is because there is really no such thing as a “vape” explosion. A vaping device is either a box with some circuitry or a metal tube with little else inside it. Saying that they, in and of themselves, can explode is pretty ridiculous.

What is vaping and is it safe?

“Vaping is a delivery system similar to a nebulizer, which people with asthma or other lung conditions may be familiar with,” says Broderick. “A nebulizer turns liquid medicine into a mist that patients breathe in. It’s a highly effective way of delivering medicine to the lungs.” The Chemicals You Inhale When Vaping

Is vaping bad for Your Lungs?

Vaping exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals. These may include the main active chemicals in tobacco (nicotine) or marijuana (THC), flavorants, and other ingredients that are added to vaping liquids. Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process.

How many vape explosions happen each year?

If everyone who handles batteries followed basic battery safety procedures we would probably have no more than 10 vape-related explosions per year. Even now, they are pretty rare – a very conservative estimate tells us that there are around 21 million vapers in the world.

What chemicals are in vaping?

What are vaping devices?

How old do you have to be to vape?

Can nicotine be inhaled in a vaporizer?

Is vaping harmful?

Is vitamin E acetate harmful?

Is vaping more popular in high school?

See 4 more

About this website

Do vapes have the risk of exploding?

Although these incidents appear uncommon, vape fires and explosions are dangerous to the person using the vaping product and others around them. There may be added dangers, for example, if a vape battery catches fire or explodes near flammable gasses or liquids, such as oxygen, propane, or gasoline.

Does vaping affect the atmosphere?

E-cigarettes contribute to indoor air pollution and cause indoor air quality to worsen. According to the Annual Review of Public Health Journal, high levels of indoor air pollutants produced by electronic cigarettes call for precautionary measures to protect public health.

Is vaping an environmental issue?

Vape waste is especially bad for the environment because it is three forms of waste in one: plastic waste, hazardous waste, and electronic waste (e-waste). All of these are hazardous for the environment.

Can a vape start a fire?

Dropping a vape on a carpet, duvet or armchair won't start a fire, but there are still fire risks associated with e-cigarettes. The risks around vaping tend to come from counterfeit or faulty products, and poor charging practises, so take a look at our advice below.

How long does vape particles stay in the air?

While particles from conventional cigarette smoke linger in the air for upwards of 45 minutes, researchers found that those stemming from e-vapor products evaporate within seconds, even indoors.

Is it OK to vape inside the house?

In contrast to the known harm from secondhand smoke, there's no evidence so far of harm to bystanders from exposure to e-cigarette vapour. The many harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke are either not contained in e-cigarette vapour at all, or are usually found at much lower levels.

Is vaping worse than smoking?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

What are 3 reasons you should not vape?

The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:Nicotine.Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease.Volatile organic compounds.More items...

What does smoking and vaping do to the environment?

Quit Director Dr Sarah White said that most people who smoke or vape aren't aware that cigarette and e-cigarette production and consumption are accelerating the climate crisis by contributing to deforestation, carbon emissions, plastic pollution, water use and waterway contamination.

Can hotels tell if you vape?

Can hotels tell if you vape in the hotel room? Well, sort of. Non-smoking hotel rooms have smoke detectors that will be set off by vaping. However, if you are determined to do it anyway, the bathroom is the best spot to avoid getting caught.

How many vape explosions have there been?

Fires or explosions caused by e-cigarettes are rare. Twenty-five separate incidents of explosion and fire involving an e-cigarette were reported in the United States media be- tween 2009 and August 2014. Nine injuries and no deaths were associated with these 25 incidents. Two of the injuries were serious burns.

Can u put a vape in water?

Vape devices, such as the Kind Pen e-cigs [or a similar device], were not designed to hold water. The O-rings on the vape tanks can potentially fail, causing water to leak inside the vape battery and render it useless…. so you definitely won't get the results you're after, and you'll be on the market for a new e-cig.

What negative effects does vaping have?

The most commonly-reported adverse effects were throat/mouth irritation, headache, cough, and nausea, which tended to dissipate with continued use....The most common side effects of vaping include:coughing.dry mouth and throat.shortness of breath.mouth and throat irritation.headaches.

What are 3 reasons you should not vape?

How does nicotine affect the environment?

Roughly 4.5 trillion cigarette filters pollute our oceans, rivers, city sidewalks, parks, soil and beaches every year,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO. Products like cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes also add to the build-up of plastic pollution.

Does vaping affect plants?

Because e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, they cannot transfer any virus particles to greenhouse or garden plants. The vapor from e-cigarettes contains nicotine, which is a toxic insecticide but shouldn't harm any plants.

Can vaping damage your lungs? What we do (and don’t) know

The rising popularity of vaping has been dramatic, especially among teenagers.According to a 2019 study, about 37% of high school seniors reported vaping in 2018, up from 28% the year before.An estimated 2.1 million middle school and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2017; that number jumped to 3.6 million in 2018.A more recent survey found that among high school seniors ...

Is Vaping Bad for You? And 12 Other FAQs - Healthline

Vaping isn't as risky as smoking cigarettes, but it still has negative side effects. Find out which fluid flavors carry the most risk, ingredients to avoid, and more.

Health Risks Of Vaping: Let's Stick To The Science And Speculate Less

A growing body of evidence gathered over the last 15 years has shown that using an electronic cigarette ("vaping") is probably far safer than smoking and likely to help smokers quit their deadly habit forever. Certain segments of the public health establishment have reacted oddly to these results—they've ignored them and treated vaping as a serious threat.

What chemicals are in vaping?

What are vaping devices?

Vaping devices, also known as e-cigarettes, vape pens, and e-hookahs among other terms, come in many shapes and sizes. Some look like traditional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Others are shaped like every-day objects, such as pens or USB memory sticks.

How old do you have to be to vape?

New laws are aimed at curbing vaping among teens. People must now be 21 to buy any tobacco product, including vaping products. And companies can no longer produce and sell flavors that appeal to children like fruit and mint. If you’ve already started vaping or smoking cigarettes, it’s never too late to quit.

Can nicotine be inhaled in a vaporizer?

Plus, other chemicals can be produced during the vaporizing process. “If the liquid has nicotine in it, then the user is inhaling nicotine along with the other ingredients in the liquid,” explains Dr. Thomas Eissenberg, an expert on tobacco research at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Is vaping harmful?

So how safe is vaping? Studies suggest nicotine vaping may be less harmful than traditional cigarettes when people who regularly smoke switch to them as a complete replacement. But nicotine vaping could still damage your health.

Is vitamin E acetate harmful?

One harmful chemical may be a thickening agent called Vitamin E acetate, which is sometimes used as an additive in THC-containing vape products. The CDC identified it as a “chemical of concern” among people with vaping-associated lung injuries.

Is vaping more popular in high school?

Vaping is now more popular among teens than smoking traditional cigarettes. One in four high school seniors say they vaped nicotine in the past month. And studies have found that teens who vape nicotine may be more likely to go on to smoke traditional cigarettes.

Why is vaping so difficult?

This is due to the difficulty in correctly identifying what they inhaled, especially when they are intubated or unconscious.

Why is vaping so popular among teens?

First publicized as a safer alternative to smoking tobacco, vaping caught on because it didn't contain the carcinogens or tars found in most smoking tobacco products. Also, vaping was supposed to eliminate the dangers of secondhand smoke to those nearby.

How long does a vape last?

Did you know most cigarettes are smoked within two to five minutes? E-cigarettes on the other hand can last up to 20 minutes, delivering more nicotine and damaging chemicals to the lungs. In addition, some vaping mixtures can contain 20 times the nicotine that a single cigarette contains.

What is an e-cigarette?

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid solution — usually, but not always, containing nicotine — turning it into a vapor that can be inhaled . If the base nicotine mixture is not palatable, many flavors, such as mint, apple and others, can make vaping attractive, especially to adolescents.

How to help a teenager who is vaping?

Encourage your teen to look into the warnings and media stories related to vaping, or reach out to his or her primary care provider with questions.

How to tell if a child is vaping?

Talk with your kids about the dangers of vaping, but also look for warning signs including: 1 Changes in emotions 2 Trouble sleeping 3 Scents of fruity odors on skin, breath and clothes 4 Strange cylinders, chargers or batteries lying around

Is vaping bad for teens?

Adolescents often feel that bad things happen to everyone else, but the risks associated with vaping are real. Many teens are taking things a step further, adding cannabis, CBD oils and other dangerous additives to vaping devices.

What is a vape pen?

With vaping, a device (typically a vape pen or a mod — an enhanced vape pen — that may look like a flash drive) heats up a liquid ( called vape juice or e -liquid) until it turns into a vapor that you inhale. “Vaping is a delivery system similar to a nebulizer, which people with asthma or other lung conditions may be familiar with,” says Broderick. ...

What is the food additive used to deepen e-cigarette flavors?

Diacetyl: This food additive, used to deepen e-cigarette flavors, is known to damage small passageways in the lungs.

What is the chemical that can damage your lungs?

Acrolein: Most often used as a weed killer, this chemical can also damage lungs.

Is second hand vapor safe?

Secondhand Vapor Isn’t Safe Either. It’s a myth that secondhand emissions from e-cigarettes are harmless. Many people think the secondhand vapor is just water, but this couldn’t be farther from the truth. The vapor emitted when someone exhales contains a variety of dangerous substances, which may include: Nicotine.

Is it safe to take vitamin E?

And, while it’s safe when taken orally as a supplement or used on the skin, it’s likely an irritant when inhaled. It’s been found in the lungs of people with severe, vaping-related damage.

Does vaping affect the lungs?

Instead of bathing lung tissue with a therapeutic mist, just as a nebulizer does, vaping coats lungs with potentially harmful chemicals. E-liquid concoctions usually include some mix of flavorings, aromatic additives and nicotine or THC (the chemical in marijuana that causes psychological effects), dissolved in an oily liquid base.

How many vape explosions are there in the world?

As you can see, all but one of these causes can be attributed to mishandling or improper use of batteries. Fortunately, there’s an easy fix for them – education! If everyone who handles batteries followed basic battery safety procedures we would probably have no more than 10 vape-related explosions per year. Even now, they are pretty rare – a very conservative estimate tells us that there are around 21 million vapers in the world. However, in the last couple of years, there were 250 vape-related explosions reported (not an exact number since most vapers don’t report these incidents, knowing that they are either fully responsible for the explosion or the explosion didn’t injure anyone). That’s 0.001% – hardly an overwhelming number!

How many vape explosions have occurred in the last couple of years?

However, in the last couple of years, there were 250 vape-related explosions reported (not an exact number since most vapers don’t report these incidents, knowing that they are either fully responsible for the explosion or the explosion didn’t injure anyone). That’s 0.001% – hardly an overwhelming number!

Do vaping devices explode?

Still, these ‘vape’ (sigh!) explosions do happen and we want you to feel when using your vaping device. That’s why it’s important to familiarize yourself with the most common causes of those explosions. If you know them, you will most likely be able to avoid them.

Where was the e-cigarette found?

After dousing the flames, firefighters found the remains of an e-cigarette on the bed-side table.

Can a battery explode?

The crux of the problem are the batteries – they are the ones that can, potentially, explode. However, that’s true of all batteries, including those in our phones. Remember Galaxy Note 7 debacle? The devices weren’t at fault; it was the batteries powering them that caused the explosions. What we’re dealing with here is called thermal runaway – a shorting battery that feeds into itself, causing a rise in temperature that results in the battery venting (exploding). It’s basic chemistry, really.

Is There Really Such a Thing As a “Vape” Explosion?

What is the first safety standard for e-cigarettes?

Last October, a global independent safety science company, Underwriters Laboratories, announced the first safety standard for the electrical, heating, battery and charging systems for e-cigarettes.

Who was injured in the e-cigarette explosion?

The vast majority of those injured were men who had put e-cigarette batteries in their pants or shorts pockets when they said the batteries exploded.

Which e-cigarettes have the UL mark?

Only a handful of e-cigarette manufacturers qualified to have the UL mark on their packaging, including Joyetech, Eleaf, Innokin, Shenzhen IVPS and Shenzhen Smoore Technology . Nine devices from these companies received the UL mark. A few, but not all, are sold in the U.S.

Can you put 18650s in and out of vape?

But simply doing so can put users at risk. That's because the act of taking 18650s in and out of vaping devices or chargers can damage the cell's insulating wrapper, compromising the safety of the battery, Kerchner said. Mechanical mods give consumers control over the intensity of their vaping experience.

What is an explosive atmosphere?

In DSEAR, an explosive atmosphere is defined as a mixture of dangerous substances with air, under atmospheric conditions, in the form of gases, vapours, mist or dust in which , after ignition has occurred, combustion spreads to the entire unburned mixture . Atmospheric conditions are commonly referred to as ambient temperatures and pressures.

What causes explosive atmospheres in the workplace?

ATEX and explosive atmospheres. Explosive atmospheres in the workplace can be caused by flammable gases, mists or vapours or by combustible dusts. Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage.

What is the classification of explosive atmospheres?

Classification of areas where explosive atmospheres may occur. Employers must classify areas where hazardous explosive atmospheres may occur into zones. The classification given to a particular zone, and its size and location, depends on the likelihood of an explosive atmosphere occurring and its persistence if it does.

What is the name of the two European directives for controlling explosive atmospheres?

ATEX is the name commonly given to the two European Directives for controlling explosive atmospheres:

How can explosions cause damage?

Explosions can cause loss of life and serious injuries as well as significant damage. Preventing releases of dangerous substances, which can create explosive atmospheres, and preventing sources of ignition are two widely used ways of reducing the risk. Using the correct equipment can help greatly in this. The Dangerous Substances and Explosive ...

What does the EX symbol mean on a protective equipment?

Once certified, the equipment is marked by the 'EX' symbol to identify it as such . Certification ensures that the equipment or protective system is fit for its intended purpose and that adequate information is supplied with it to ensure that it can be used safely.

What is the purpose of Directive 94/9/EC?

The aim of Directive 94/9/EC is to allow the free trade of 'ATEX' equipment and protective systems within the EU by removing the need for separate testing and documentation for each Member State.

Dusty Industries

Pharmacology industries use a great deal of extremely fine and chemically inert powder to create compressed tablets, pills, and capsules. The food processing industry uses substances like flour, powdered sugar, finely ground cinnamon (tree bark), and corn starch, all of which can be easily made airborne.

Why is Dust Vulnerable to Combustion?

Just as large animals have less surface area per volume than small animals, large particles expose less of their fuel to heat and oxygen than small ones. This is why a log can burn for hours and hours, but a sawdust particle can be consumed in less than a millisecond. Some materials even spontaneously ignite upon contact with a hot surface.

Most Dust can Combust

There are always exceptions, say, for example, talcum powder. It is non-inflammable, non-explosive, and waterproof; however, by and large, we can safely assume that nearly all powders with a particle size smaller than half a millimeter (0.5 mm) will present a safety risk.

Silos are Vulnerable to Atex Explosion

Silos often circulate air to keep grain dry. Corn stored for a year waiting for market prices to rise is just as good for food production, animal feed, or whatever other need arises because it is hard, dry, and ready to process.

Assessing the Risk for Atex Explosion

The environment must be evaluated. Are the particles 0.5 mm or smaller? How much dust do the individual machines and processes accumulate between cleanings? What is the total amount of dust in the facility? Does the dust ever exist in sufficient concentrations to ignite?

The Zones

There are three zones of concern with explosive dusty atmospheres. A facility may be rated largely as Zone 22, which is very unlikely to ever experience a condition where an explosive atmosphere exists. Offices come to mind, but it could as easily be a portion of the facility sufficiently far from the generation point as to be essentially immune.

The Takeaway

Some processes are inherently dusty. Mining granite, marble, or chalk can be done with impunity. But coal dust has resulted in the deaths of thousands worldwide. In comparison, a methane explosion is almost tame, though such a thing can trigger a coal-dust explosion, if they are found together.

How to keep the risk of explosive workplaces low?

Other important measures to keep the risk in explosive workplaces as low as possible is the use of correct containers and processes, the correct design of equipment, installation and maintenance as well as the control of ignition sources and heating materials above their auto-ignition point.

How does the European ATEX regulation help to identify explosive environments?

In order to identify any locations where explosive environments could form, the European ATEX regulation suggests an evaluation of the risk of explosion in a company by identifying the hazardous properties of the dangerous substances involved or the monitoring of work processes like cleaning, repair or maintenance activities. Furthermore, the temperatures and pressures at which the dangerous substances will be handled as well as the quality and choice of tools in use should be kept in mind.

Why is it important to use tailor made tools for explosive environments?

Furthermore, the use of appropriate tools, tailor-made for explosive environments is an important safety measure. As such tools are made of soft materials, the amount of energy required to extract pieces from a surface is smaller. Therefore, the separated pieces are not as hot and cannot be qualified as sparks which means they cannot ignite gases.

What are explosive tools made of?

90% of safety tools used in explosive environments are made from aluminium-bronze and copper-beryllium alloys, which offer a great mix of safety and usefulness.

Is an explosive atmosphere unavoidable?

In certain industries, explosive atmospheres are unavoidable, but by identifying potential sources of danger, executing risk assessments and doing regular maintenance along with implementing and using the appropriate equipment, the potential for explosions and accidents while working in explosive atmospheres can be minimized.

Is air flammable?

There is a number of substances that are flammable when mixed with air, meaning that there are many industrial sectors where potentially explosive atmosphere can arise in their process. Some of such atmospheres are not potentially explosive by default but it’s often the amount of said substances which makes such areas become hazardous.