On 1 July, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) approved a Proposition 65 Maximum Allowable Dose Level (MADL) of 1,200 micrograms per day for oral exposures for butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP). BBP was initially listed under the Proposition 65 as known to process reproductive toxicity (developmental endpoint) on 2 Dec 2005. The MADL proposal has been filed with the US Secretary of State recently, and will become effective 1 Oct, 2013.
Chemical name | Level | CAS No | Toxic endpoint | Uses |
Butyl Benzyl Phthalate (BBP) | 1,200 (oral) micrograms per day | 85-68-7 | developmental | BBP is commonly used as a plasticizer for vinyl foams, which are often used as floor tiles. Other uses are in traffic cones, food conveyor belts, and artificial leather. |
Additional regulatory information: BBP was identified as a Substance of Very High Concern for being toxic for reproduction (article 57c) by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) in 2008. | ||||
California’s Proposition 65, in the full name of the “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986”, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The Proposition was intended to protect California citizens and the State’s drinking water sources from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals. It demands the Governor to revise and republish at least once a year the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, which has been known as the “Proposition 65 List”. The current List, updated on 24 May, 2013, contains over 700 chemical substances and hazardous materials such as tobacco smoke and wood dust.
The Proposition features a distinctive system of “Consumer Products Exposure Warning” signs for products sold in California containing any listed chemicals.
Warning | Situation |
WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer. | For consumer products that contain a chemical known to the state to cause cancer. |
WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. | For consumer products that contain a chemical known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity. |
WARNING: Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm may be present in foods or beverages sold or served here. | For food, other than alcoholic beverages, sold, served, or otherwise provided in food facilities, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 27521(a), |
Most but not all of the chemicals listed under Proposition 65 are marked with the “Safe harbor levels”, which include No Significant Risk Levels (NSRLs) for cancer-causing chemicals and Maximum Allowable Dose Levels (MADLs) for chemicals causing reproductive toxicity. Exposure levels and discharges to drinking water sources below the safe harbor levels are exempt from the requirements of the Proposition.
On 25 June, the OEHHA added four substances to the Proposition 65 List as public consultation on their identification as known to cause cancer ended on 22 March. The four substances are Benzophenone (119-61-9), Coconut oil diethanolamine condensate (68603-42-9), Diethanolamine (9111-42-2), and 2-Methylimidazole (693-98-1).
