An e-cigarette reportedly caused a man to suffer severe burns on his leg after the device exploded in his pocket during last weekend. The Kentucky man was paying for snacks at a Shell gas station when the electronic cigarette flew out through his pants leg.Josh Hamilton is from Owensboro in western Kentucky.
Jassie Singh was working at the cash register when the explosion happened. He explained that Hamilton was putting his hand into his pocket to make his payment when a big fire started and the customer started to burn.
The security cameras inside the gas station filmed the event. In the video clip Hamilton shakes his leg as he steps back from the counter and then runs outdoors, according to CNN.
Manoj Kumar is another gas station worker who was also working at the Shell on February 20, Saturday. He told CNN that Hamilton removed his pants to try to get the flames away.
That is when Singh ran outside the store and used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Another customer then gave Hamilton a ride to a local hospital.
Hamilton made a Facebook post on Saturday afternoon to report the event. He explained that an e-cig's lithium battery caused third-degree burns when it blew up and caught fire in his pocket.
He also posted photos of his burns and commented that he hopes he will not require surgery or skin grafts.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered electronic devices. They release a liquid and usually nicotine as a vapor.
The e-cig devices and their liquids are not regulated by groups such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the FDA has considered taking that step.
Scientists are studying whether or not e-cigarettes can help people to quit smoking traditional cigarettes. However, their studies have produced different results.
A few weeks ago United States Congressman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) smoked an e-cig in protest during a committee meeting. They were taking up a bill that would ban the gadgets on airlines.
Hunter argued that vaping does not create any toxic chemicals. He uses e-cigs to help him quit his cigarette habit, so he opposed the smoking ban that was passed by a 33-26 vote, according to USA Today.
This study claims e-cigs can help to quit smoking: