Learn About EMFs

Not only does your cell phone emit hazardous microwave radiation that has been linked to brain tumors, now consumers must take into consideration the risk that their cell phone could explode, causing massive bodily injury and, in at least one instance, death.

In South Korea, a 33 year old man was found dead, presumably killed by a cell phone battery explosion, according to police. The cell phone was manufactured by LG Electronics.

According to police reports, “He was injured in the left side of his chest. His ribs and spine were broken. The explosion punctured his heart and lungs, leading to his death.”

This is one of the first reported cases of a death caused by a cell phone exploding, but there have been countless reports of cell phones exploding and causing injury.

A California teen suffered second-degree burns when her her Kyocera Wireless 2325 cell phone caught fire. The 16-year-old girl’s phone burst into “fist-size flames” without warning, fire investigators said.

A 33 year old Dutch woman was injured when her Nokia phone exploded in her hands. Another man received burns on his legs when his Nokia phone exploded in his pants pocket.

The Associated Press reported that a 13 year old California teen, Michael Sathre, picked up his Verizon phone to make a call when it exploded, leaving him covered in blood.

Marecelino Gonzalez, 62, suffered second-degree burns when his Kyocera phone exploded in his hand as he turned it on. “If it was to my face, it would have blown up in my face,” said Gonzalez, who is contacting a lawyer.

A spokesman for the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSP), Scott Wolfson, said, “CPSC is receiving more and more reports of incidents involving cell phones, and we’re very concerned of the potential for more serious injuries or fires.”

Burns to the face, neck, leg and hip area are among the injuries reported to the CPSC by cell phone users. The agency has said it is working with companies to try to create better quality battery standards.

The cell phone industry has blamed cell phone explosions on off-brand batteries (cheaper batteries that are not brand name) and have urged people to purchase their brand name batteries as a safety precaution.

The problem is, cheap batteries might not be the problem in the first place.

While the cell phone industry insists the problem is limited to counterfeit batteries and defective chargers, consumer advocates say that’s by no means proven. They noted that some of the phones which exploded had been purchased a short time before the fires and the owners had never replaced the batteries or modified the phone in any way.

So why are cell phones exploding? One contributing factor might be the quality of wiring used in the phones. Looking to produce cell phones at a greater profit, cell phones are being mass manufactured in China with thinner and cheaper wiring. That, coupled with the fact cell phone batteries can heat up to 600 degrees, might be a contributing factor.

As always with cell phones, exercise caution. If a new cell phone is producing more heat or you are able to feel more radiation coming from it, it might be due to cheaper wiring and you might want to replace that cell phone.

Also, if a cell phone is dropped, exercise more caution as it could affect the inside wiring, making it more susceptible to spontaneous combustion.