Photo/Illutration This power bank in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Oct. 2 was burned in a fire from a lithium-ion battery in an experiment by the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation. (Michio Inoue)

The government has warned the public about the dangers of products powered by lithium-ion batteries, citing a recent spate of accidents caused by overheating and fires.

The Consumer Affairs Agency and the Environment Ministry on Oct. 2 emphasized that lithium-ion cells are vulnerable to shock and extreme heat and advised people to try to avoid recharging products containing the cells while sleeping.

Consumers should also follow the instructions of the local governments concerning proper battery disposal, they said.

According to the Consumer Affairs Agency, 2,350 accidents, including fires, were likely caused by lithium-ion cells in 20 major product categories from fiscal 2020 through fiscal 2024.

Most of the accidents, or around 350, involved smartphones, followed by power-assisted bicycles and power banks, each at about 300, and cordless vacuum cleaners, rechargeable power tools and notebook computers, each at 250.

The government said the number of accidents is also rising for wireless earbuds, at 64 cases over the five-year period, smartwatches, at 46, and portable fans, at 26.

SMARTWATCH BURNS SLEEPER’S WRIST

In one case, a person returned home to find the recharger for wireless earbuds had apparently exploded, burning part of the floor and strewing powder around the room.

A smartwatch on the wrist of a sleeping wearer caught fire in the middle of the night, causing burns to the skin.

Another person had a portable fan in a bag that began to emanate smoke and emit a foul smell. The fan caught fire when the user took it out of the bag.

Lithium-ion batteries use a flammable organic solvent. Products powered by them can cause accidents when they are dropped, receive strong shocks or are exposed to high temperatures.

Caution should also be exercised when users dispose of such products because lithium-ion cells have frequently caused fires and other accidents while being crushed in garbage trucks or at waste treatment plants.

Environment Ministry figures show the batteries were responsible for 21,751 accidents, such as fires and smoke emissions, during garbage disposal processes in fiscal 2023, including 8,543 cases that required firefighting.

PRECAUTIONS FOR USE, DISPOSAL

The Consumer Affairs Agency offers these guidelines for products powered by lithium-ion batteries:

- Don’t expose the products to strong shocks or pressure.

- Don’t leave the products in areas with high temperatures.

- Don’t recharge the products near flammable objects and avoid recharging them while sleeping.

- Stop using the product if you sense something unusual, such as excess heat, a bulge or a foul smell, and consult the seller.

- If the product catches on fire, ensure your own safety first. After the fire dies down, use a fire extinguisher or dump the product in water to prevent damage from spreading. Call 119 if the fire is beyond control.

- Check for product recalls on the websites of the Consumer Affairs Agency, the National Institute of Technology and Evaluation, product manufacturers and other parties.

- Follow local government instructions when disposing of the products.

- Drain the battery before disposing of the product.

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