The dangers of e-cigarette use are well known when it comes to the potential for addiction and lung damage, but a new study published in the Journal of Surgical Research found another cause for concern when it comes to e-cigarettes: the potential for vape devices to explode during time of use.

A study by members of the Western Consortium for the Study of Pediatric Surgery found that between January 2016 and December 2019, 15 patients in nine pediatric hospitals suffered traumatic injuries as a result of e-cigarette explosions. Ten of them required hospitalization, three required treatment in the intensive care unit.

According to one of the authors of the study, Shannon Acker, MD, assistant professor of pediatric surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, 15 patients participated in the study, six of whom required surgery.

She told Medical Xpress that e-cigarettes use a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that vaporizes a liquid nicotine solution. Batteries may be of poor quality and prone to explosion. Therefore, if it ends up in the hand or near the face, it will lead to injury.

The specialist also said that according to the latest data, more than 5% of middle school students and 11% of high school students have used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days, and they are currently the most commonly used tobacco products. Their use among schoolchildren increased by 900%.