( CNN ) -- Could your smartphone really give you a lethal electric shock ? That question was on the minds of many Monday amid news that Apple is investigating the death of a woman in China whose family said she was electrocuted after answering a call on her iPhone while the device was recharging . The death of Ma Ailun , 23 , was first reported Sunday by China 's Xinhua News Agency . Citing police reports and social media posts by Ma 's family , Xinhua reported that Ma , who lived in China 's western Xinjiang region , collapsed to the floor Thursday after using her iPhone 5 while the battery was being charged . `` We are deeply saddened to learn of this tragic incident and offer our condolences to the Ma family . We will fully investigate and cooperate with authorities in this matter , '' Apple said in a statement sent to CNN and other news agencies . Details of Ma 's death remain sketchy . Local police confirmed that Ma died of electrocution , but as of Sunday had yet to verify that her phone was involved in the incident , Xinhua reported . CNN has not been able to independently confirm the report . But the news raises questions about the potential electrical hazards of devices many of us carry at almost all times . Experts say the likelihood of someone being electrocuted by a smartphone , even while the device is charging , is very , very low . For one , phones charged from a USB cord have a supply voltage of about 5 volts , not enough to severely harm a person . `` We have seen very few incidents related to shock or electrocution ( involving cell phones ) , '' said Scott Wolfson , communications director for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission . `` Most of our attention has been on overheating , smoke or fire . '' But the risks become greater when someone powers a phone with a substandard or incompatible charger . Some knockoff chargers do n't have proper insulation , potentially exposing users to overheating , fire or electric shock . In a recent online post , the China Consumers Association warned about that country 's market being flooded with counterfeit chargers that could potentially turn a phone into a `` grenade . '' `` Stick to the company that made your phone when you 're buying replacement products , '' Wolfson said . It 's not clear what kind of charger Ma was using , although her sister said she had bought her phone in December at an official Apple store and was using the original charger to recharge the device when the incident occurred , according to a post on Sina Weibo , a Chinese microblogging site that is similar to Twitter . Mixing smartphones with water is another safety concern . Ma 's family said online that she left the bath to answer the phone . Water is an excellent conductor of electricity , and moisture on the skin can lower a person 's natural resistance to electric shock , experts say . Also , electrical shocks involving consumer electronics often have nothing to do with the devices themselves . Instead , they can be caused by overloaded power outlets , frayed extension cords or faulty wiring in a home , experts say . Wolfson said American consumers have reported a few isolated cases of phones smoking or catching fire while recharging . When it comes to cell phones and safety , the majority of problems have involved phone batteries that burst or catch fire under heat or pressure , he said . `` This is not the week to leave your cell phone in the car , '' said Wolfson , referring to the heat wave that 's embroiled much of the country . Still , he said , `` it is a rare occurrence for there to be a safety incident with a cell phone . ''
Incident in China raises concerns about smartphones and safety . Reports : Woman died of electric shock last week after answering call on her iPhone . The death of Ma Ailun , 23 , was reported Sunday by China 's Xinhua News Agency . Her family said she collapsed after using her phone while recharging the battery .