Experts have warned against a viral trend on TikTok for quitting vaping as it could turn into an extremely dangerous situation.
Disposable vapes are currently a popular tool for people who are trying to quit smoking, but these are also harmful to your body and also the environment.
So if you want to kick this nicotine habit for good, you might be wondering the best way to do it - but one popular method on social media has been dubbed as a fire hazard by experts.
One method for quitting vaping circulating on TikTok involves dunking your disposable vape in a glass of water so that it stops working and you're not tempted to reach for it.
But because the vapes contain a lithium-ion battery, this trick poses a massive fire safety risk as they can "theoretically explode."
That's according to Stuart Stevenson from Vapour Depot, who has warned people against getting rid of their vapes in this way.
He said: "While the videos show that the disposable is no longer working, what they don't show is that this technique is a fire hazard. Like most electronic devices, disposable vapes contain a lithium-ion battery. These types of batteries can theoretically explode.
"As disposable vapes are electronic devices, they are easily damaged by water. Damage caused by water can be dangerous, as it can cause the battery to short-circuit and start a fire.
"If a fire were to break out in your home this hack would make the fire spread much quicker endangering the lives of everyone in your home."
A spokesperson from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has also said they're working to identify the risks that the vapes with these batteries can pose.
David Dourley, commander for prevention and protection, told the Daily Record: "We are working hard with key stakeholders and partners to understand the risks that lithium-ion batteries (LIB) present to communities across Scotland.
"A bespoke working group is focused on these risks and their findings will bolster our community safety messaging.
"We would urge users of LIB technology to always follow manufacturing guidance when disposing of spent battery units to ensure reduced risk of fire."
This comes as the Daily Record has kickstarted a campaign to get disposable vapes banned in Scotland due to the health and environmental problems that they cause.
The Scottish Government is now considering the ban and experts are currently being consulted on the next steps for creating and implementing it.
It's estimated that a huge 1.3 million disposable vapes are thrown away in Britain every week.
Campaigners say that the lithium batteries which are being discarded could power 1200 electric cars, as well as being hugely harmful to wildlife on the land and in the sea.
Green MSP Gillian Mackay is an advocate of the campaign, warning that the single-use devices were turning up more and more on streets and in beach clean-ups - and claimed they could become "the cotton bud of their time".
How to safely dispose of vapes
Instead of placing your vapes in a glass of water to stop them working, there are a number of safer methods you can use to get rid of them and stop the temptation.
According to Recycle Your Electricals, putting them in the bin should be avoided at all costs because of the battery they contain.
Instead, you should take them to a recycling centre where the batteries will be removed and the rest of the device is broken down by machine and by hand.
All waste and recycling centres should have bins for electronics and batteries. If you can, remove the battery yourself and recycle it separately.
But if not, put the whole device in the electrical recycling bin and dispose of it that way.
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