An investigation of exploding electronic cigarettes has been called for by United States Senator Charles Schumer to study the causes. The New York Senator has also called for e-cigarette manufacturers to recall their battery-operate products until the probe is done.  

Schumer referred to four injuries in New York caused by e-cigs last month. He called the smoking devices a ticking "time bomb," according to Newsday.  

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Schumer's announcement follows the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent announcement that it will regulate vaping devices like traditional cigarettes. For example, the products cannot be sold to minors below 18 years old.

The colorful devices give off candy-flavored vapors and are powered by lithium batteries. E-cigarettes fill lungs with nicotine when people inhale them,  

Meanwhile, the US Fire Administration has classified the e-cig batteries as "flaming rockets." It also estimates that over 2.5 million Americans have smoked e-cigarettes since 2014.

Schumer reported that in April the hand and thighs of a man from the village Malverne were burned when an electronic cigarette exploded in his pants pocket.

He shared other reports of e-cigarette injuries. They included a teenager whose face and hands were burned, and a woman who experienced an e-cig exploding while she was driving.

The Senator argued that the FDA should investigate why the e-cigarettes are exploding, and force manufacturers to prevent such events from happening. This is especially true since the number of users will increase due to regulation.

FDA spokesman Michael Felberbaum stated that the FDA is concerned about the events linked to electronic e-cigarettes. They include issues such as exploding batteries and over-heating.

Felberbaum reported the FDA is studying the voltage and chemicals of e-cigs' lithium batteries. This is to evaluate over-heating. However, he did not comment on whether an investigation of the explosions would be conducted, or if recalls of devices would take place.

Last week the FDA announced it will launch new regulations that will include e-cigs, traditional cigarettes, cigars, and hookahs. The feds would regulate all tobacco products on the market that hit retail stores after February 2007, according to Hot Air.

That would include almost all c-cigarette products. Chinese pharmacist and inventor Hon Lik filed a patent for the first modern e-cigarette in 2003.

Here are some interesting facts about e-cigarettes: