Walmart will stop selling e-cigarettes in Lexington County and elsewhere.

The giant retailer blamed “regulatory complexity and uncertainty” over health.

Nine people have died and more than 500 reported ill with lung problems from vaping the devices.

The e-cigarette industry was quick to strike back.

The largest makers include Juul Labs, which is planning a $125 million plant in Lexington County.

“The fact that Walmart is reducing access for adult smokers to regulated vapor products while continuing to sell combustible cigarettes is irresponsible,” Tony Abboud of the Vapor Technology Association said.

This comes months after Walmart phased out the sale of fruit- and dessert-flavored e-cigarettes and raised the age to buy tobacco to 21.

Walmart will also stop carrying all related devices and accessories, including cartridges and pods.

A Walmart spokeswoman said sales were “relatively small” for the company and it expects to sell off its inventory in a few months.

E-cigarettes have grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. The products, which are typically marketed as a way to quit smoking traditional cigarettes, have gained popularity among teenagers.

More than 20% of high school students said they used e-cigarettes last year, up from 12% the year before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.