NEWS

OEHHA Issues Revised and Additional Material for Proposed Chlorpyrifos and n-Hexane Listings

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has released an updated list of references for the chlorpyrifos hazard identification material (HIM) that its Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) will use as it considers whether to list the chemical under Proposition 65.

OEHHA to Weigh Listing Chlorpyrifos, N-Hexane and Coumarin under Prop. 65

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA's) Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) has proposed adding chlorpyrifos and n-hexane to the Proposition 65 list of regulated chemicals and its Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) has proposed adding coumarin.

Department of Pesticide Regulation Increases Scrutiny on Chlorpyrifos

In the wake of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decision to allow continued use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) has signaled it may tighten regulation of the neurotoxic pesticide.

Food Companies Facing September 30 Deadline for Warnings on Furfuryl Alcohol

Intertek, a leading testing and quality assurance company, is alerting manufacturers of food products to a September 30 compliance deadline for placing warnings on any product containing furfuryl alcohol under California's Proposition 65.

EPA Finalizes TSCA Inventory Reset Rule

On August 11, 2017, U.S. EPA published the final version of its so-called "inventory reset" rule in the August 11, Federal Register under the recently enacted revision of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

EU On the Way to First Restrictions on Acrylamide in Food

The European Union has taken the first step in eventually ordering the reduction of the presence of the chemical acrylamide in foods. According to the internet media platform Euractive, representatives of the EU's 28 member states voted on July 19 in favor of a European Commission proposal to reduce the presence of the carcinogen normally found in fried or roasted foods, such as French fries, potato chips, bread, biscuits, or coffee.

EPA Says It Has Eliminated Excess Backlog Under TSCA New Chemical Review Program

In an August 8 press release U.S. EPA says that it has eliminated a backlog of pending reviews under the TSCA Section 5 program that existed at the time of the enactment of last year's revision of the Act.

OEHHA Proposes Safe Harbor Warning for Hotels

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is proposing a specific safe harbor Proposition 65 warning that would be used by hotels and other "transient" lodging establishment.

OEHHA Proposes Numerous Small Amendments to New Warning Regulations

Last August OEHHA completely rewrote its regulations governing what constitutes a "clear and reasonable warning" for exposure to a Proposition-65 carcinogen or reproductive toxicant.

OEHHA Proposes Background Levels for Arsenic in Rice

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed adding a new section to its Proposition 65 regulations to address natural background levels of chemicals in unprocessed foods and has started off the new process by announcing tentative levels for arsenic in rice.

Titanium Dioxide Could Be Identified as a Carcinogen

The risk assessment committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has proposed that the white pigment titanium dioxide (TiO₂) be classified as a potential carcinogen through the inhalation route.

OEHHA Releases Public Comments on its Proposed Glyphosate Safe Harbor Level

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard (OEHHA) has posted the more than 1,300 public comments it received on its proposal to set a safe harbor level for glyphosate under Proposition 65—with the vast majority of comments coming from individuals and groups arguing that the agency's proposal is not protective of public health.

IARC’s Latest Classifications Could Lead to Two Proposition 65 Listings

Testing By Consumer Group Finds Continued Presence of BPA in Can Linings

The Oakland-based Center for Environmental Health (CEH) has released a report concluding that the controversial chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) is still widely present in can linings in the U.S.

OEHHA Lists Glyphosate After Supreme Court Rejects Monsanto Plea

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has listed the chemical glyphosate as a Proposition 65 carcinogen after last minute attempts to block the listing by Monsanto were rejected by the California Supreme Court.

OEHHA Proposes Adding Three New Chemicals to Prop. 65 Through Labor Code Mechanism

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has announced its intention to list three new chemicals—N,N-Dimethylformamide, 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole and Tetrabromobisphenol A—as carcinogens under Proposition 65.

OEHHA Holds Public Hearing on Setting Naturally Occurring Lead Level in Candy

The Office of Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) held a public hearing on whether it should launch a rulemaking to set a naturally-occurring lead level in candy containing chili and tamarind, but officials did not indicate when they would make a final decision.

EPA Releases Risk Evaluation Scope Documents for First Ten Chemicals under New TSCA Law

U.S. EPA has released "scoping documents" that will be used to conduct risk assessments of the first ten chemicals selected for evaluation under the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)--also known as the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^st Century Act.

DTSC Releases Alternatives Analysis Guide with Few Changes from Earlier Draft

The Department of Toxic Substances Control has released the final version of its Alternatives Analysis Guide (Guide) just in time for its possible use by manufacturers of the first product designated under the Department's Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program...

Proposed Federal Law Would Require Greater FDA Review of Cosmetics

Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have introduced proposed legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration substantially increased authority over cosmetics.