Monthly Archives: February 2018

On February 12, 2018, California State Senator Ricardo Lara introduced a resolution (SCR-100) urging the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) to add processed meat to the state’s list of substances known to cause cancer under the Proposition 65 Labor Code listing mechanism. Processed meats include those such as bacon, ham, hot dogs, deli meats and more.  This resolution follows the International Agency for Research on Cancer's (IARC) classification of processed meats as a Class 1 carcinogen in 2015, highlighting a meta-analysis concluding that consuming 50 grams of processed meat per day increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18%…

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has released a discussion draft of its Product – Chemical Profile for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Carpets and Rugs, pursuant to the Safer Consumer Products (SCP) Program. DTSC is accepting comments on the draft here until March 23, 2018, and will be holding a public workshop on March 7, 2018. PFASs encompass a large family of chemicals containing a carbon and fluorine backbone. These chemicals have unique characteristics, being resistant to heat, water and oil. PFASs have been used in consumer products; in carpets and rugs, these chemicals have been used…

by Aisha Keown-Lang A larger than usual number of products, thirty-five in total, were targeted last week in Notices of Violation for Proposition 65 private enforcement, and for a wider variety of chemicals than usual. Other than the usual phthalates and lead/lead compounds, targeted chemicals included acrylamide, cadmium, bisphenol A (BPA), and diethanolamine. The largest class of targeted products this week was dietary supplements, with a total of eight targeted supplements.  Whereas for the last several years the Environmental Research Center (ERC) has been the most active private enforcer for dietary supplements, there appears to be a new enforcer in…

On February 9, 2018, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released its draft 2018-2020 Priority Product Workplan. The Workplan, once finalized, will serve as the starting point for DTSC to select Priority Products under its Safer Consumer Product (SCP) Program. Written comments on the draft will be accepted beginning February 12, 2018, with a deadline of March 9, 2018. DTSC also will hold a public workshop on the draft Workplan on February 26, 2018 at Cal/EPA headquarters in Sacramento. Under the SCP Program, DTSC identifies product and chemical of concern combinations - i.e., Priority Products - via formal…

By Aisha Keown-Lang A California state judge will soon decide whether coffee will require Proposition 65 warnings. The lawsuit in question, filed by Council for Education and Research on Toxics (CERT) in 2010, claims that dozens of coffee suppliers and retailers failed to provide clear and reasonable Proposition 65 warnings for acrylamide, a Proposition 65-listed carcinogen that is formed during the coffee roasting process. If CERT succeeds, cancer warnings could be required on cups of coffee or shops that sell coffee, and coffee retailers could face high fines for failure to comply. Two defendants, BP West Coast Products and Yum…