14 Chemicals (Dibenzanthracenes and N-Nitrosomethyl-N-Alkylamines) Listed Effective December 14, 2014 as Known to the State to Cause Cancer

Effective December 26, 2014, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is adding dibenzanthracenes (as a chemical group), dibenz[a,c]anthracene, and dibenz[a,j]anthracene to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65¹).  Dibenz[a,h]anthracene – one of the three chemicals that comprise the chemical group dibenzanthracenes -- has been listed under Proposition 65 as causing cancer since January 1, 1988.  Thus with this listing the other two chemicals in the group are now individually listed under Proposition 65 as well as the group itself.

Dibenzanthracenes, dibenz[a,c]anthracene, and dibenz[a,j]anthracene were considered by the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) in its official capacity as the “state’s qualified experts” (SQE) at a public meeting held on November 19, 2014.  The CIC determined that the chemicals were clearly shown, through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles, to cause cancer.  Regulations for listing of chemicals by the CIC are set out in Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 25305(a)(1). 

A complete, updated chemical list is published in this issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register and is available on the OEHHA website.

In summary, the chemicals in the table below are listed under Proposition 65 as known to the State to cause cancer, effective December 26, 2014.

N-NITROSOMETHYL-n-ALKYLAMINES

Effective December 26, 2014, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is adding N-nitrosomethyl-n-alkylamines with alkyl chain lengths of 3 to 12 and 14carbons to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65¹).  The chemicals are named in the table below, along with their chemical abstract numbers (CAS Nos.).

The N-nitrosomethyl-n-alkylamine with a 1-carbon alkyl chain, N‑nitrosodimethylamine, has been listed under Proposition 65 as causing cancer since October 1, 1987.  The N-nitrosomethyl-n-alkylamine with a 2-carbon alkyl chain, N‑nitrosomethylethylamine, has been listed under Proposition 65 as causing cancer since October 1, 1989.

The N-nitrosomethyl-n-alkylamines with alkyl chain lengths of 3 to 12 and 14 carbonswere considered by the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) in its official capacity as the “state’s qualified experts” (SQE) at a public meeting held on November 19, 2014.  The CIC determined that the chemicals were clearly shown, through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles, to cause cancer.  Regulations for listing of chemicals by the CIC are set out in Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 25305(a)(1).

A complete updated chemical list is published in this issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register and is available on the OEHHA website.

In summary, the chemicals in the table below are being listed under Proposition 65 as known to the State to cause cancer.

Chemical Reference

• Dibenz[a,h]anthracene
• Dibenz[a,c]anthracene
• Dibenz[a,j]anthracene
• Dibenzanthracenes
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-propylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-butylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-pentylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-hexylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-heptylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-octylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-nonylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-decylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-undecylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-dodecylamine
• N-Nitrosomethyl-n-tetradecylamine

Related Notices

• CIC Meeting Scheduled for November 19, 2014 and Hazard Identification Materials for Dibenzanthracenes and N-Nitrosomethyl-N-Alkylamines

  Aug 29, 2014

Footnotes and References

¹Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq.

² SQE – “state’s qualified experts” mechanism (Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(b) and Title 27 Cal. Code of Regs., section 25305(a)(1)).