Chemicals Listed Effective December 19, 2008 As Known To The State Of California To Cause Cancer Or Reproductive Toxicity: 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) (CAS No. 118-96-7) and Chromium (hexavalent compounds)

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) of the California Environmental Protection Agency is adding two chemicals to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65¹).  The chemicals are 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) (CAS No. 118-96-7) and Chromium (hexavalent compounds).  2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Chromium (hexavalent compounds) are listed effective December 19, 2008. 

2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) (CAS No. 118-96-7) was considered by the “state’s qualified experts” (the Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) of the OEHHA Science Advisory Board²) at a public meeting held on November 5, 2008.  The CIC determined that 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) (CAS No. 118-96-7) was clearly shown, through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles, to cause cancer.  Regulations governing the criteria for listing of chemicals by the “state’s qualified experts” (Carcinogen Identification Committee) mechanism are set out in Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 25305(a)(1) (formerly Title 22, California Code of Regulations, section 12305(a)(1)). 

Chromium (hexavalent compounds) was considered by the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Identification Committee of the OEHHA Science Advisory Board³) at a public meeting held on November 20, 2008.  The DART Identification Committee determined that chromium (hexavalent compounds) was clearly shown, through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles, to cause reproductive toxicity (including all endpoints, developmental toxicity, male reproductive toxicity and female reproductive toxicity).  Regulations governing the criteria for listing of chemicals by the “state’s qualified experts” (DART Identification Committee) mechanism are set out in Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 25305(b)(1) (formerly Title 22, California Code of Regulations, section 12305(b)(1)).

A complete, updated chemical list is available for download at the links below.

In summary, the following chemicals are being listed under Proposition 65 as known to the State to cause: 

Cancer

Reproductive Toxicity

Chemical Reference

• Chromium (hexavalent compounds)
• 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

Meeting Announcements/Information

• November 20, 2008 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee Meeting
• November 5, 2008 Meeting of The Science Advisory Board’s Carcinogen Identification Committee

Related Notices

• November 5, 2008 Meeting of The Science Advisory Board’s Carcinogen Identification Committee

  Dec 5, 2008
• Request for Relevant Information on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of: Bisphenol-A, Chlorpyrifos, Chromium, DDE, Sulfur dioxide

  Jan 18, 2008
• Hazard ID Materials for Hexavalent Chromium and Chlorpyrifos, Submission of Relevant Studies for Particulate Matter and Total Trihalomethanes

  Sep 5, 2008
• Chemicals Submitted to the Carcinogen Identification Committee for Consultation: N,N-Dimethylformamide, Marijuana Smoke, and 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT)

  Sep 7, 2007
• Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

  Aug 15, 2008

Footnotes and References

¹ Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq.

² Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(b) and Title 27, Cal Code of Regs., section 25302 et seq.

³ Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(b) and Title 27, Cal Code of Regs., section 25302 et seq.

⁴ Listing mechanism:  SQE – “state’s qualified experts” mechanism (27 CCR section 25305(a)(1)).

⁵ Listing mechanism:  SQE – “state’s qualified experts” mechanism (27 CCR section 25305(b)(1)).