PHNOM PENH: Two NGOs have requested the authorities in Cambodia to look into e-cigarettes that use branded flavors known to be popular among young people and children in order to attract them as consumers, as the product has been banned by the government after it was found to cause serious harm to health.

Some flavors such as Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Fanta, Red Bull and Doublemint are being used by e-cigarette manufacturers to attract young people.

E-cigarettes are especially addictive and dangerous for children and young people as they contain nicotine, the statement from the NGOs said. Other substances such as propylene glycerin and glycol can also cause serious damage to lungs and hearts.

Nicotine is known to cause damage to brain development, and among children and young people, this can lead to impaired memory, dementia, difficulty concentrating, and inactivity at work and in their learning.

E-cigarettes have been prohibited from business, distribution and use in the Kingdom of Cambodia, according to the guidelines on the measures to prevent the use, exploitation, and import of Sisha products and e-cigarettes, released in 2014.

According to a study by the CDC in the United States, conducted from August 2019 to February 2020, 2,807 Americans were found to have fallen ill due to e-cigarettes, while 68 died from pneumonia related to e-cigarette-use.