(Press Release) The State of California has relisted Bisphenol A (BpA) on its Proposition 65 list of substances known to the state to cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive toxicity.
The state took this new action notwithstanding the continued existence of a lawsuit brought by the American Chemistry Council and others to enjoin the state’s first attempt to list BpA.
The chemical is of note to members of the optical industry because it is used as a starting material in the manufacture of polycarbonate.
The Prop 65 warning requirement for BpA takes effect one year after the chemical is added to the list. Thus, companies will now have until May 11, 2016 to determine if their products sold in California contain BpA, or if their California work places will expose employees to BpA.
The Vision Council is in the process of reviewing the new listing, especially to determine whether or not the state is providing a safe harbor level for BpA.
Chemical exposures above the safe harbor level trigger a Prop 65 warning, and when the state first added BpA to its list – which action led to the law suit discussed above – a safe harbor level was provided, and this level was above the level in which most people would encounter in a product. The Vision Council believes that a similar safe harbor level would benefit its members and other members of the optical industry.
See here for more information.