Reports of cell phone explosions resulting in burn injuries while being plugged in
for charging or while receiving a call are reported in regular newspapers and few
journals.[1]
[2]
[3] Spontaneous explosions are unknown; we hereby report a case of burn injuries due
to the spontaneous explosion of a cell phone in the pocket.
A 22-year-old man presented with a history of burns following spontaneous explosion
of the mobile phone kept in his trouser pocket while riding an e-bike. The blast followed
a head-on collision with another bike. Immediately, the patient moved aside, took
the cell phone off the pocket, and smothered the flame with his hand, sustaining injury
to his right thumb. The mobile was burnt and the front right pocket of his jeans pant
was also burnt ([Fig. 1]). On examination, 4% second-degree superficial and deep thermal burn involving the
anteromedial aspect of the right thigh ([Fig. 2]) and right thumb were noted. Immediately after presentation, wound care with thorough
wash and topical antibiotics was done. Superficial burn wound healed, while split
skin grafting was done after 2 weeks for the 2-degree deep burns.
Fig. 1 (a) Image of the cell phone after spontaneous blast. (b) Image of the burnt front pocket of the trousers.
Fig. 2 (a) Clinical photographs of the burn wound over the medial aspect of the thigh on day
1. (b) Clinical photographs of the healing burn wound on day 10.
Injuries due to cell phone explosions are not uncommon. The most common reasons for
cell phone explosions are using it while being charged and “call bombing.”[1] It may be due to a spark generated by the battery within the phone or the electromagnetic
waves that generate current and ignite an inflammable object in the vicinity.[3]
[4]
The causes of cell phone explosion are often related to the use of replacement batteries
and chargers, etc. Mobile phones usually use lithium batteries, which transform chemical
energy into electrical energy. If the battery heats up quickly while charging or during
heavy usage, the chemical makeup of phone battery results in a chain reaction called
“thermal runaway.”[5] This results in the generation of heat exceeding 60°C, and the phone in turn catches
fire. The chemical reaction may lead to the release of gases and buildup of pressure
and lead to a blast.
In our case, the victim had kept the mobile in his pocket while riding an e-bike at
a speed of 20 to 30 km/h. Further, he claimed to have used only company-provided accessories
obtained at the time of purchase 5 months ago and the mobile was not defective and
was in a good condition prior to the incident. Cell phones left in the car and in
direct sunlight have been known to get heated up and blast spontaneously. E-bikes
are also known to catch fire as they do have lithium batteries. In this case, the
e-bike may have a causal relationship by emitting electromagnetic waves causing blast
or it could just be an incidental association. The causal relationship, however, could
not be ascertained.
Because of emerging cell phone blast injuries, there is a need to increase public
awareness about the potential risks of mobile phones. It is important to align to
safe practice as prescribed by the manufacturer while using mobile phones and to avoid
counterfeit products.
