From: Viet Nam News
HCM CITY (VNS) — Vietnamese consumers must become more aware of the health dangers of illicit tobacco products, including smuggled cigarettes, experts urged at a seminar held in HCM City on Tuesday.
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Many of the smuggled cigarettes contain coumarin, a fragrant organic chemical which can be addictive.
Coumarin is a toxic substance that has harmful effects on the nervous system, heart, blood vessels, liver and animals. It can also cause cancerous tumors, especially those related to male reproductive health.
The Viet Nam Ministry of Health, as well as the US Food and Drug Administration, have banned the use of coumarin in cigarettes.
