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Explosions resulting from cell phone use?

Warnings in several major cell phone manufacturers' manuals suggest a possibility of an "explosion or fire resulting in bodily injury or even death" (Motorola Brochure "Satellite Series 9500 Portable Telephone"). The explosion (which, it can be noted, is extremely rare given only several accounts of such an action occurring) can occur in any possibly hazardous area where flammable items are stored. This could most likely occur in a gasoline station; while the gasoline pumps are shielded against any possible ignition that could potentially cause an explosion, cell phones are not. Reportedly, the battery inside a cell phone may cause a small spark; this spark could possibly trigger such an explosion. However, there are only several instances of this type of event occurring (three as of yet); none of which can be directly explained using the cell phone theory. The possibility, of course, still exists.

After an explosion involving a Nokia phone in a gasoline station, the Finland-based cell phone handset manufacturer reported that using "generic" and poor quality after-market batteries could cause an explosion given the right set of conditions. Their recommendation? Always buy genuine Nokia batteries.

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