California Proposition 65
August 22, 2023 | Written by GreenSoft Technology, Inc.
Three Chemicals Added/Updated on the California Proposition 65 Substance List
Anthracene and Dimethyl Hydrogen Phosphite added, 2-Bromopropane updated, on the Proposition 65 regulated substances list
In August, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added two new substances to the list of chemicals regulated under the state’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65), and updated one substace existing on the list.
Effective August 11, 2023, the following two substances have been added to the list of chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer:
• Anthracene (CAS RN 120-12-7)
• Dimethyl hydrogen phosphite (CAS RN 868-85-9)
Anthracene is commonly used as a precursor for dyes, pigments, and fluorescent compounds. And dimethyl hydrogen phosphite serves as a reagent in organic synthesis in the production of agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals, and is used as a flame retardant and smoke suppressant.
Additionally, the type of toxicity for 2-bromopropane (CAS RN 75-26-3) was updated to include "cancer" in addition to "female and male reproductive toxicity". 2-Bromopropane is primarily utilized as a solvent in industrial cleaning and degreasing, as well as a chemical intermediary for synthesizing pharmaceuticals and specialty chemicals.
California law requires that certain substances identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) be listed as known to cause cancer under California Proposition 65. The IARC recently concluded that 2-bromopropane is “probably carcinogenic to humans” and that anthracene and dimethyl hydrogen phosphite are “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Additionally, the IARC concluded that there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in animals for all three substances.
The full California Proposition 65 list of regulated substances can be found here. The announcement of the three new substance additions/updates can be found here.
GreenSoft Technology provides help with Proposition 65
The inclusion of substances in the California Proposition 65 regulated substances list brings about immediate obligations for affected companies. In order to comply with the obligations under California Proposition 65, businesses must have detailed knowledge of the chemicals that their products or business locations contain and expose to the California public.
Affected companies are required to inform Californians about exposure to substances on the Proposition 65 chemicals list before the potential exposure takes place. Penalties for being found in violation of CA Prop 65 can be as high as $2,500 per violation, per day.
In order to know which chemicals are exposed to the public, a business must collect substance data on the products that it sells to the public in California or the products that it uses within its California business locations. GreenSoft Technology can help with this process.
As part of our California Proposition 65 Data Services, we will collect substance data from your suppliers on your behalf, and check it against the list of chemicals regulated under CA Prop 65. Contact us to learn more.
