Disposable e-cigarettes with names such as Baja Slushie, OMG Blow Pop and Cotton Candy are intentionally and illegally marketed to children and teenagers, New York’s attorney general argued in a lawsuit filed Thursday.

Selling flavored nicotine vapes has been illegal in New York State since 2020, but they are still a near-ubiquitous presence in corner stores and smoke shops in New York City. The products exploded in popularity in the past decade, and scientists and public health experts have sounded alarms about the health risks they pose, especially to young people.

New York’s attorney general, Letitia James, sued nine makers, distributors and sellers of some of the most popular vaping devices, seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in fines for creating a “youth vaping epidemic,” according to a statement from her office.

Ms. James accused the companies of flouting state and federal laws designed to protect children and teenagers.

“The vaping industry is taking a page out of Big Tobacco’s playbook: They’re making nicotine seem cool, getting kids hooked and creating a massive public health crisis,” Ms. James said in a statement announcing the suit.

The complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, targets the distributors of popular brands such as Puff Bar, Elf Bar and MYLÉ. According to the complaint, the companies use enticing names, bright colors and candy-like flavors to appeal to adolescents.