Final Determination on the Petition to Reconsider the Listing of Mercury and Mercury Compounds as Known to the State to Cause Reproductive Toxicity

The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the lead agency for the implementation of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65).

In a public notice published in the California Regulatory Notice Register on March 28, 1997, OEHHA announced receipt of a petition to reconsider the July 1, 1990 listing of "mercury and mercury compounds" as chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity. In this same notice, OEHHA requested information on the reproductive and developmental toxicity of mercury and mercury compounds (excluding methyl mercury). After careful consideration of all relevant information submitted to and obtained by OEHHA, the petition is denied. Mercury and mercury compounds will remain on the list of chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity. Inquiries concerning this decision may be directed to the Proposition 65 Implementation Program.