Proposition 65

What is Proposition 65?

California’s Proposition 65, also called the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, was a California voters approved ballot initiative enacted in 1986 to protect citizens and sources of drinking water from harmful chemicals.

What are the requirements of Proposition 65?

The state of California is required to maintain and publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. The list is administered by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and is updated at least once a year. First published in 1986, the list now includes approximately 900 chemicals.

Once a chemical is listed, manufacturers are required to provide a “clear and reasonable” warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a listed chemical. This warning can be given by a variety of means, such as by labeling a consumer product, posting signs at the workplace, distributing notices at a rental housing complex, or publishing notices in a newspaper.

What does a Proposition 65 warning mean?

It means that the Manufacturer issuing the warning believes that one or more listed chemicals is present in its product, even if it is only present in trace quantities. ThermOmegaTech® has chosen to label all of its products. We use language approved by the State of California as follows:

WARNING Proposition 65

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals, for example lead, nickel, acrylonitrile, which are known to the State of CA to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

What is the Proposition 65 list?

The list contains a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals that are known to cause cancer, birth defects or other forms of reproductive harm. They include additives or ingredients in pesticides, common household products, food, or drugs. They can also be chemicals used in manufacturing and construction including many metals and plastics, dyes, solvents or byproducts of chemical processes, such as motor vehicle exhaust.

The list contains information on the chemical, the type of toxicity, its listing mechanism, CAS Number, the date it was listed, and any safe harbor level. View the Proposition 65 List.

How can I get more information?

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, OEHHA, maintains a comprehensive website at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/. This website explains the law and offers a list of all the chemicals and materials.

You can also email or call the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment’s Proposition 65 Implementation Office at P65.Questions@oehha.ca.gov or (916) 445-6900.