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Exploding Cell Phones
While exploding cell phones are still relatively rare, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said there have been about 77 reported incidents, some of which have sent people to area emergency rooms. Last month, San Diego-based Kyocera recalled about 1 million cell phone batteries after they short-circuited and vented superheated gases, burning two consumers.
Cell phone user Todd Delpho said his cell phone exploded while he was charging it. The charger holding his phone went off like a small bomb, he said. The explosion caused a fire that burned Delpho's desk, computer screen, books and carpet.
"It landed all the way over there by the doorway," Delpho said. "I mean, that's how much protrusion this explosion had. "What if my parents were sleeping? They could have been awakened to a fire at their door, for crying out loud!"
Delpo said his close call was probably caused by a cheap battery he bought online. Exploding batteries can come from many sources, NBC 7/39 reported.
"No. 1 is counterfeits," said Scott Wolfson, of the Consumer Products Safety Commission. "No. 2 is defects with the actual cell phone batteries. No. 3 is people taking the cell phone battery out of the phone and mixing it with metal, whether it be coins or keys. No. 4 is crushing of the cell phone. No. 5 is overheating."
The CTIA -- a wireless association -- said there needs to be more safety standards when it comes to cell phone batteries.
"The industry's decided that what we need to do is come up with a universally accepted set of standards of performance and design for those batteries that go inside cell phones," said John Walls, of the CTIA.
In the case of Kyocera, the supplier was getting substandard batteries from a supplier.
"This supplier was actually getting cells from the market that we've never seen approved or tested," Walls said. "So, we couldn't vouch for their safety or their quality."
There is an ongoing government investigation into exploding cell phones, Wolfson said. Meanwhile, consumers can take important steps to protect themselves.
Always use the battery charger that comes with the cell phone.
Never touch the battery contacts with metal.
Never crush the battery or put it under pressure.
Avoid dropping cell phones.
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