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Can using your cell phone when filling up gas really lead to explosion in the gas station?
 
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Yes, It can. I have seen several clips on the news about gas fumes being sparked. I don't know HOW , but this is true.
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An episode in Discovery Channel's Mythbusters tested this myth. And true enough, it is pegged as "myth busted". Through this show, they have scientifically proven that this myth is definitely not true.
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I have a Motorolla Satellite Series 9500 Portable phone. The brochure clearly says that �this telephone has not been designed or approved for use in potentially explosive atmospheres. Areas with a potentially explosive atmosphere are often, not always, clearly marked.� And just to remind everybody, a gasoline station,especially near the pump, is a potentially explosive area. Now why would they place this warning if it is not true? Gas is a highly volatile substance. Even the smallest of sparks can set it off. Cellular phones run with electricity from batteries. Add to it the potential static discharges. That�s a terrible combination. Heed the warnings!
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Better to err on the side of caution. It's still best to follow instructions in gas stations. They are there for protection. Though I haven�t seen any warnings in the Shell stations in US, but who cares? It's better to be safe than sorry. I have yet to read a report, recent or otherwise, on cell phones triggering an explosion, but why wait for one to happen? I definitely don't want to be the star of the first headline on that issue.
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Most gas stations have removed those warning stickers because it just isn't true. Getting in and out of your car however might still be true.
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I have been reading and hearing about this myth for many years now. I remember reading it on the internet in 1999. They said that an Indonesian burnt himself while fueling up and using his phone at the same time. But contrary to popular culture, I believe this myth is just what it is, a myth. No reports about the Indonesian incident were released to confirm that it actually happened. Also an article about the subject was published on the net, which said that both the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA) and the American Petroleum Institute issued statements denying the risks. I�m sure they will not release a statement that may have a potentially life threatening impact on people without much research. Some would insist that phone batteries cause static that will lead to an explosion. If your concern is about the static electricity of your phone triggering an explosion, you have a bigger problem with your car. Come on, our car batteries have more electrical output than your phones. Some run on 12 volts while others run on 24 volts. Thus, our cars have a higher risk of static discharge than our cell phones.
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