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OEHHA Finalizes Ethylene Glycol Maximum Acceptable Dose Level

Effective July 1st, 2017, the Proposition 65 Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) for ethylene glycol (CAS 107-21-1) will be 8,700 micrograms per day, the same level proposed by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment on April 8, 2016. Because the chemical’s listing is restricted to the oral route of exposure, the MADL consequently reflects the dose, through the oral ingestion route, above which a Proposition 65 warning would be required for this substance.

Ethylene glycol, best known for its use in antifreeze, was first added to the Proposition list of chemicals known to cause reproductive toxicity on June 19, 2015. The listing was controversial, inasmuch as underlying studies demonstrated that humans are unlikely to experience reproductive effects even at high doses.

The warning requirement for ethylene glycol became effective on June 19, 2016. Since then, two Proposition 65 notices of violation have been issued, one of which (relating to antifreeze) was withdrawn. The other notice, also involving cooling fluids, resulted in settlement.

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Ms. Grimaldi maintains a diverse environmental law practice focusing on chemical and product regulation and litigation defense. Her practice areas include Proposition 65, California's Safer Consumer Products Regulations, California's Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Act and the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. Ms. Grimaldi graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law magna cum laude and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bacteriology from University of California, Davis. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a research assistant in laboratories at the University of California, San Francisco Cancer Research Institute and at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.