California Seeks Feedback to Update Prop. 65 Carcinogen List

A 30-day public comment period has been issued by the state of California regarding the removal of three chemicals from the Proposition 65 list of chemicals known to cause cancer.

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), the lead agency for the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65), has issue its intent  to remove isosafrole [CAS No. 120-58-1], 5-nitro-o-anisidine [CAS No. 99-59-2], and tris(aziridinyl)-p-benzoquinone (triaziquone) [CAS No. 68-76-8] from the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer, for purposes of Proposition 65.

According to the agency, each of these chemicals originally was added to Proposition 65 list on October 1, 1989.  Because these chemicals were added to the Proposition 65 list by operation of law based on the Labor Code Section incorporation by reference of chemicals identified as known or potential carcinogens within the scope of the federal Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200), the removal of 5-nitro-o-anisidine from designation as such and the classification of isosafrole and tris(aziridinyl)-p-benzoquinone as Group 3 means that these chemicals should be removed from the Proposition 65 list.

Therefore, OEHHA proposes to delist isosafrole, 5-nitro-o-anisidine, and tris(aziridinyl)-p-benzoquinone as chemicals known to the state to cause cancer. This notice announces the opportunity for public comment on the intended action. Anyone wishing to provide comments on the intended action delisting these three chemicals should send written comments and any supporting documentation in triplicate by mail (or hand-delivered in person or by courier) or a single copy by e-mail or fax to the address listed below:

Cynthia Oshita, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, P.O. Box 4010 Sacramento, CA, 95812-4010, USA; Fax: (916) 323-8803 ; Tel: (916) 445-6900; E-mail: [email protected]. In order to be considered, comments must be received at OEHHA by 5:00PM on Oct.10, 2006.