When a battery releases lithium in small amounts, it works great to power your devices. When released all at once, however, a battery explosion may occur. The lithium batteries in vaping devices are different from, and more dangerous than, lithium batteries in laptop computers. These small batteries are designed as a cylinder. The problem occurs in the battery’s circuiting. A plastic piece separates the anode and cathode, but this plastic piece often fails, allowing the anode and cathode to make contact. When they touch, the battery overheats.

In addition, coins or other metal in a pocket or purse can come into contact with a battery and cause the electrolyte within the battery to heat past its boiling point. This is called “thermal runaway.” The pressure ruptures the seal at the top of the cylindrical battery, venting the super-heated electrolytes.

To make matters worse, the solution inside lithium-ion batteries is extremely flammable. The heat makes the solution explode, creating a small “flaming rocket” that can shoot across a room. If you happen to have this in your pocket or near your face, you could suffer severe burns, tissue damage or loss, and chemical burns.