The Internet and Risk Creation: The Strange Case of the Rumour that Mobile
Phones Can Cause Petrol Station Explosions
In many countries mobile phone use is banned at petrol stations, adding to the
uncertain sense in which mobile phones are understood to pose a health risk. In so far
as an explanation for the ban is forthcoming, petrol station attendants will tell you that
the ban is based upon the real possibility that the phone’s battery might cause a spark
and ignite petrol vapours. In some cases this is backed up with rumours of
unspecified, but actual incidents. In fact the chances of such an occurrence have been
shown to be virtually negligible and not warranting further investigation. But an
internet rumour from 1999 has reported alleged incidents where explosions have
taken place, and this rumour has subsequently been elaborated upon and turned into
hoax e mails from major oil companies. Partly as a result even most fire personnel
still believe that mobiles can cause explosions. It appears that the source of these
rumours is often lower level staff at oil companies themselves, who uncritically send
on and even ‘sex up’ stories and videos they receive alleging such incidents. In an
important twist to this tale, there have been a number of fire incidents at petrol
stations – mainly in the USA – but these have been caused by body static, not mobile
phones. Many of the rumours apparently showing a mobile phone igniting petrol
vapours are actually incidents involving static. As is often the case risk rumour is here
not pure invention but a twisting of the truth.
Burgess, Adam