Melaka health dept drafting proposal on vape ban
PETALING JAYA : The Melaka health department is preparing a proposal to ban the manufacturing and sale of e-cigarettes or vapes in the state.
State health, human resources and unity committee chairman Ngwe Hee Sem said the proposal will be presented to the state executive council for a decision later this year.
'The state government has yet to take a position on whether to support or reject the ban, as the matter is still under review,' Bernama reported him as saying during the Melaka assembly sitting at Seri Negeri today.
He was responding to Low Chee Leong (PH-Kota Laksamana), who asked about the state government's stance on vape sales.
Ngwe said while vapes are often seen as a safer alternative to conventional smoking, their nicotine content still poses addiction risks and health hazards, and are by no means 100% safe.
He said vape liquids contain various harmful heavy metals such as nickel, chromium and arsenic, all classified as Group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
'They also contain cobalt, which is toxic to the lungs, and cadmium, which can damage the kidneys and is also linked to cancer.
'These heavy metals have also been associated with mental health issues, including depression,' he said.
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