E-cigarettes can cause severe burns

Internationally, the rise of these nicotine applications also brings with it some serious accidents. "In parallel with the increasing spread of electronic cigarettes among the population, more and more burn injuries caused by explosions of the devices or the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries have been observed worldwide," the authors state.

"Several cases of explosions related to e-cigarettes have already led to fatalities," wrote Christian Freystätter from the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at MedUni Vienna (AKH) and his co-authors in the Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift.

In recent years, this trend has also been observed at the clinic in Vienna: "We report a series of seven patients who were treated in our department between 2016 and 2022. Of the seven victims, two also had to be treated in the intensive care unit. Two patients were admitted to a regular ward, and three only required outpatient care."

E-cigarettes: Not Just Superficial Burns

The average age was 43 years. Two of the seven burn victims were women, as the scientists noted in their publication (doi: 10.1007/s00508-025-02520-y). "Most patients had superficial to full-thickness burns on their thighs and dominant hands, but injuries to the genitals were also observed," reported the plastic surgeons. On average, 4.5 percent of the total skin surface was affected. When hospitalization was necessary, it lasted an average of 12.5 days.

Fortunately, none of the affected individuals died. However, the experts identified injury patterns that should be noted: "Explosions of e-cigarettes often occur in public, while the devices or rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are carried in trouser pockets, as our study shows. This often ignites the victim's clothing."

Danger in Crowds

It is not just an individual risk, according to Freystätter and his co-authors: "In a crowd or on public transport, this fire could quickly spread and endanger surrounding people. It is therefore in the public interest to raise awareness of this potential danger posed by e-cigarettes."

In the USA, a recent study has shown that more and more teenagers are using e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches together. Within just one year (2023 to 2024), the use of nicotine pouches has doubled (use in the previous 30 days), while the sole use of e-cigarettes among teenagers has decreased.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.