Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) pose mechanical risks including device explosions and thermal burns due to lithium-ion battery failures. This study analyzed recent trends in ENDS explosion injuries using national surveillance data. We analyzed 2020–2024 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data from emergency departments across the United States to identify emergency department visits for ENDS battery-related explosion and burn injuries. Cases were identified through systematic text mining of narrative fields using keywords related to e-cigarettes and explosion/combustion. Weighted national estimates were calculated using the NEISS sampling methodology. Between 2020 and 2024, an estimated 2043 emergency department visits (95% CI: 1326, 2760) were attributed to ENDS battery-related explosion/burn injuries based on 52 unweighted cases. Most patients were adults ages 18–44 years (72.7%) and male (80.7%). Lower extremity injuries were most common (54.1%), followed by upper extremity injuries (31.0%). More than one-quarter of cases (26.3%) required hospital admission, with an additional 3.9% transferred to other facilities. ENDS battery-related explosion injuries remain an uncommon but serious source of morbidity, with over 25% of cases requiring hospitalization. These findings emphasize the need for continued surveillance and stronger regulatory standards for ENDS to avert serious, preventable injuries among users. • E -cigarette battery explosions/burns led to 2043 emergency department visits. • Most patients were ages 18–44 and male; lower extremities most injured. • Over one-quarter of cases required hospital admission. • Injuries declined vs 2015–2019 despite increased e-cigarette sales. • Findings support continued surveillance and stronger device safety standards.
Blakney et al. (Sun,) studied this question.