Originally Posted by
GordonR_Cape
Peter H
I think the statement about 'rather copious quantities' of toxic gases struck me as a slight exaggeration for the relatively small batteries found in most portable devices.
I should probably have provided citations. I guess I thought it was common knowledge.
I've seen a big room fill with smoke from a lithium-chemistry battery fire (from a laptop battery) in a very short period of time. I'm pretty sure that there would be significant concentrations in an airliner cabin fairly quickly, and that dissipation would be slow without active ventilation to outside air. It would definitely create an unpleasant experience and, potentially, harmful exposure.