Even though it is slim, that little phone you keep in your pocket has the possibility to explode. There were records of different phone explosions, like when a Galaxy A02 caused a house fire in Glasgow, an Alaska Airlines flight was evacuated after a Samsung Galaxy A21 caught fire, a battery blew up in a man’s hand in China, and a device exploded inside a man’s pocket in Vietnam. It’s unlikely that your phone will blow up. Btsiut why does it happen, and what can you do to prevent it, if anything?
But why Do phones Explode?
There are many reasons why a phone might catch fire or explode, but the most common cause is excessive heat or physical damage to the battery. Today’s mobile devices are powered by lithium-ion batteries, which use a delicate mix of positive and negative electrodes to recharge. The inner components of the battery can fail if overheated or damaged, resulting in a volatile chain reaction that sets the battery on fire: the larger the battery is, the more intense is the fire.
Phone overheating
The reason for your phone overheating varies. It could be:
- Leaving the phone in the sun for an extended period;
- Physical damage, the kind that is caused by a fall or extreme bending, can affect the inner workings of the battery;
- Malware overworking the CPU;
- A charging debacle can cause short-circuiting within the device, or it could be something outside your direct control.
- Using the wrong charger can also make your phone overheat.
Batteries also degrade over time. So, if you have been using your device for several years, the internal components can fade with time, leading to overheating and battery swelling. On the other hand, an issue with the phone’s production may be to blame.
“I felt this crazy, intense burning in my leg.” Said Darin Hlavaty, a student whose iPhone 6 Plus exploded in his back pocket and caught fire during class. “My phone started smoking in my pocket just as the class started.” “It was a fire. It was really hot, so I flinched, grabbed it, and hurled it on the ground.” He said. “I had to kick it because it was on fire.”
He said, “the phone’s battery was dead and was not plugged in.” The incident happened during my 9:30 a.m. physical science class. The fire had already been out by the time the fire department came, but there was still a distinct odor of smoke in the classroom.” “It’s been roughly six months since I got it.” The only flaw with it was a minor crack, but I don’t see how it could cause it to explode in my pocket.”
Following reports of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus device batteries exploding, another iPhone has made headlines for the same reason: the battery exploded, and the phone caught fire. Putting your phone in your back pocket (or any pocket) is not a good idea, especially since the iPhone 6 Plus is known to bend under extreme pressure.
These are still individual instances that were not caused by manufacturing flaws, as was the case with the battery on the Galaxy Note 7. When Samsung had to issue an unprecedented global recall for its new Galaxy Note 7 flagship phablet, we were aware. However, while the Note 7 had a flaw that made explosions significantly more common than in most phones, this has always been a problem with all mobile devices, without any exemption.
Electromagnetic radiation (EMF) radiation
As the number of sources of human-made EMF emissions continues to increase, one most significant source of EMF is putting your phone in your pocket. Like all other wireless devices, Cell Phones work by transmitting dangerous electromagnetic radiation (or EMF). Apart from the dangers of your phone exploding in your pocket, several peer-reviewed scientific studies have linked this type of radiation to a variety of adverse health outcomes. These include multiple types of cancer, DNA damage, infertility (yes, even in women), and blood-brain barrier leakage, as well as depression, diabetes, and heart irregularities. Hence, phone manufacturers now advise that phone users should not carry cell phones in their pocket -or even in bras. When you stop doing this, you can drastically reduce your cumulative exposure.
FCC guidelines
According to FCC standards, the “body-worn configuration should be done with your phone in a holster or belt clip.” As a result, the FCC instructs phone manufacturers to evaluate their EMF emissions, believing that users won’t carry their phones in their pockets. But, of course, since it is so convenient, many of us do, and our exposure may exceed FCC guidelines.
Many of us don’t even have any place to store our phones. We fail even to realize that phone manufacturers warn you not to keep your phone in your shirt, pants, skirt, or trouser pocket. For instance, the Apple iPhone 7 manual advises users to “carry iPhone at least 5mm away from your body to ensure exposure levels remain below or at the as-tested levels.” When companies, like Apple, perform tests to determine the SAR of their phones, the phones are always held at least a couple of millimeters away from the test dummy.
So, where should we put our phones?
If you carry your phone in your pocket, make sure you try to keep it as far away from your skin as possible. Even a phone case that’s just a couple of millimeters thick is better than nothing. Putting your phone in a belt holster, backpack, or handbag is a significant improvement.
