Electronic cigarette explodes in man’s mouth

A Florida man trying to kick the smoking habit was puffing on an electronic cigarette when a faulty battery caused it to explode in his mouth, taking out some of his front teeth and a chunk of his tongue and severely burning his face, fire officials said on Wednesday.

Officials have not publicly identified him, citing fire department policy. But a Facebook page under the name of 57-year-old Tom Holloway was filled with well-wishers commenting on the injury and database searches matched the address on the fire report with his name.

Holloway was in his office at home when the device exploded, leaving behind burned chair cushions, pictures, carpet and office equipment. A scorched battery case found on a piece of melted carpet appears to be one for a cigar-sized device, the report said. It appears the battery was rechargeable lithium because a recharging station and other batteries were in the room.

Thomas Kiklas, co-founder of the Tobacco Vapour Electronic Cigarette Association, said the industry knows of no problems with the cigarettes or batteries exploding. Kiklas said the rigid, plastic cigarettes include a small battery and cartridge. The battery is designed to generate an electric charge when the device is inhaled. The charge sets off vapour in the cigarette tube. The nicotine-filled mist gives the taste and experience of smoking without the smoke.

Kiklas cited a federal report that found 2.5 million Americans used electronic cigarettes last year. “There have been billions and billions of puffs on the cigarettes and we have not heard of this happening before,” he said.