why is it dangerous to talk on a cell phone while pumping gas?

Question

my mom says not to talk on the phone while pumping gas.. she says that i could blow up.. is that true? if so why?

Answer 1

I really don't think there is much risk from the phone. I see a number of people mentioned the whole Mythbusters thing.

How about this...

If you are in the process of dispensing a class 1 flammable fuel, don't you think your attention should be on the fueling process?

Answer 2

the static electricity from the phone and its signal and stuff can spark and ignite with the gas fumes and you'll blow up. Your phone should either stay in your car or be turned off at the gas pump... or both would be best.

You should also: touch the car first before touching the gas pump, so if you have any static electricity, you discharge it safely. And you should not get in and out of the car while pumping gas because you can build up the static electricity by sitting and standing and by opening and closing the door.

All of this is for the same reason that you do not smoke or light matches or anything at the gas pumps... and you turn off the car when pumping gas. It's dangerous... you could die.

Answer 3

It's a myth. Firefighters blamed a gas fire on a cell phone but later recanted. In the meantime the cell phone has been labeled the bad boy. Read this link: http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/05/cell_fires.html

That said, it's not a good idea for people to get in and out of their cars while pumping gas in the winter time. Static electricity can build up the clothing and cause a spark. Doesn't happen often but it's still a good idea to stay with the pump while filling the tank.

Answer 4

They did a show about it on mythbusters. They say it's not the phone, it's static electricity from getting into your car and back out while you are pumping. You are supposed to ground yourself before touching the pump nozzle again.

Action/Results: The boys assemble a blast chamber at Fred Stoke's Gas and Oil Memorabilia Town, and equip it with an old car seat (with fuzzy tiger print cover), a cell phone and a Leyden jar which Adam has created to hold a static charge and release a spark. To create the static charge Adam has rigged a "panty static generator" using a pair of ladies' panties and some plastic tubing. The boys fill the chamber with gas vapors and call the cell phone inside, which leads to no explosion. They attempt to ignite the gas fumes with the panty generator's static charge and still get no result. The boys retire to the lab to experiment with gas vaporous and air ratios, and different sources of ignition, during which time Adam loses quite a bit of hair from standing too close to the flame. They return to Fred Stoke's and try to blow the chamber with a higher concentration of gas in a finer spray. They end up scrapping the Leyden jar in favor of something that creates a longer spark, to which they get their "big boom". The boys conclude that cell phones generate some heat, but not enough to ignite gas vaporous. They do emphasize that a static spark will ignite gas fumes at the pumps with potentially devastating results.

Answer 5

Yes its very dangerous, when talking your cell phone will put off static electricity which in turn can ignite the gas fumes which are more flammable than the gas itself. Blowing yourself up is a rarity but you can ignite your clothes and the gas which could cause an explosion, either way you would be in serious danger. In this case listen to your mother. Speaking as a 23 year veteran Fire Fighter.

Answer 6

It is a urban myth that cell phones can cause a static electricity spark which is believed by some to be capable of igniting gas vapors, causing a fire and explosion.

According to the mythbusters, and other sources as well, however, it is extremely difficult to ignite gasoline vapors period...let alone accidentally with a cell phone. The gas-air mixture has to be just right and it just rarely happens.

Answer 7

In fact it is dangerous... just read the warning stickers next time you are at the gas station (every Mobil has a big picture of a cellphone with a cross through it). Why, you ask? there is a slight chance of any electronic device igniting vapors escaping while you're fueling the car and causing an explosion... so... dont talk on the phone while refueling! :)

Answer 8

It isn't dangerous. That's a myth. The TV show Mythbusters covered this in an early episode. They tried pumping an enclosed space full of gasoline fumes and were completely unable to detonate them with a cell phone.

Answer 9

Theory goes that the frequency or waves emitted from your cell phone can cause a spark and therefore an explosion.

Fact goes that thats not possible.

Answer 10

ask your mom. where did she hear such a thing. can be static sparks in dry, cool windy conditions that will ignite gas vapor from tank . nothing to do w/ cell phones.