NEWS

OEHHA Augments Record on Proposed Consumer Product Warnings

The Office  of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has filed a notice augmenting the record supporting some recent proposed changes to its regulations on what constitutes a "clear and reasonable warning" under Proposition 65 with respect to catalog and internet sales and the sale of alcoholic beverages.

OEHHA Releases Fact Sheet on N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP)

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has released a Fact Sheet on the Proposition 65 listed reproductive toxicant, N-Methylpyrrolidone (NMP).

Court of Appeal Set to Hear American Chemistry Council's Challenge to DINP Listing

The American Chemistry Council's appeal regarding OEHHA's listing of diisononyl phthalate (DINP) as a chemical known to cause cancer has been set for oral argument before the Court of Appeal for the Third District on April 20, 2020.

Chair of CIC Calls Out LA Times Editorial on Listing Acetaminophen

The following "Letter to the Editor" was published in the Los Angeles Times in January. The letter is from the Chair of OEHHA's Cancer Identification Committee in response to an editorial the Times published earlier in January.

The American Chemistry Council's "Accurate Labels Act" Bill Seeks to Preempt Prop. 65 and Other State Health Hazard Disclosure Laws

A federal bill dubbed the "Accurate Labels Act" (HR 6022, S 3019) was introduced in the House and Senate in 2018 and has been assigned to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Chamber of Commerce's First Amendment Challenge to Proposition 65 Acrylamide Warnings Dismissed

In October 2019, the California Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) filed a lawsuit, California Chamber of Commerce v. Becerra, in federal court against the State of California challenging Proposition 65 insofar as it requires businesses to provide warnings about the presence of acrylamide, a cancer-causing chemical, in food and beverages.

Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine Sues California to List Processed Meat As Carcinogen Despite Inevitable Federal Preemption Issues

On March 6, 2020, the Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a petition for writ of mandate in the Sacramento Superior Court to require the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to list processed meat—such as hot dogs, salami, lunch meat, and bacon—as a carcinogen under Proposition 65.

DTSC Formally Proposes to List PFAs in Carpets and Rugs as Fourth Priority Product

The Department of Toxic Substances Control has formally proposed to list PFAs in Carpets and Rugs (PFA in Carpets) as a Priority Product (PP) pursuant to its Safer Consumer Products program. The proposal, if finalized, will make PFAs in carpets the fourth PP listed under the SCP program.

CHEMICAL OF THE MONTH: Chlorinated Tris [Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, aka TDCPP and TDCIPP]

Chlorinated Tris (tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate) ["Tris"] is a chemical flame retardant. It is a known carcinogen and has been listed as such under Proposition 65 since 2013.

California Supreme Court to Determine Availability of Jury Trials in Proposition 65 Actions

On February 5, 2020, the California Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that may significantly impact the availability of jury trials for defendants in Proposition 65 actions.

U.S. EPA Provisionally Would Allow Most Uses of Carbon Tetrachloride

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a draft risk assessment that finds that current uses of carbon tetrachloride do not pose an unreasonable risk to workers or the environment.

State Water Board Considers Tighter Perchlorate Monitoring for Drinking Water

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWB) has proposed imposing more stringent monitoring requirements for the presence of perchlorate in drinking water.

Chief Manufacturer of Chlorpyrifos to End Production of Pesticide

As a ban on the sale of the pesticide chlorpyrifos has gone into effect in California, the main manufacturer of chlorpyrifos has announced it will cease manufacturing the product.

DTSC Takes First Step Towards Banning the Use of Nail Polish Ingredient

The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has taken an initial step towards possibly banning Nail Products Containing Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) under its Safer Consumer Products (SCP) program.

OEHHA Sets Prop. 65 Guidelines Related to State Fruit Fly Eradication Effort

The California Department of Food and Agriculture's use of bait stations to eradicate fruit flies does not pose a significant cancer risk under Proposition 65, according to interpretive guidelines issued by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA).

OEHHA Makes Safe Use Determination for Crystalline Silica in Four Wood Filler Products

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has issued safe use determinations (SUD's) for four wood filler products containing Prop. 65-listed crystalline silica.

OEHHA Proposes New Changes to Proposition 65 Warning Regulations

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed another round of amendments to its Proposition 65 consumer warning regulations.

OEHHA Moves Forward On PHGs Related to Drinking Water Disinfectants

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed first-ever public health goals (PHG's) for haloacetic acids in drinking water and it has also finalized previously proposed public health goals for trihalomethanes in drinking water.

State Sets More Stringent Drinking Water Guidelines For PFAS and PFOA

The State Water Resources Control Board (SWB) has issued stricter oversight standards for the presence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water.

OEHHA Sets New Guidelines for Hazardous Emissions from Biogas

The Office of Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has issued a report updating its air quality guidelines to ensure people are adequately protected from biogas emissions.