Announcement of Three Chemicals Selected by OEHHA for Consideration for Listing by the CIC and Request for Relevant Information on the Carcinogenicity of These Chemicals

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).  The Carcinogen Identification Committee (CIC) of OEHHA’s Science Advisory Board Committee serves as the State’s qualified experts for rendering an opinion whether a chemical has been clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause cancer.  The chemicals identified by the CIC are added to the Proposition 65 list, which must be updated annually. 

OEHHA has selected three chemicals for the Committee’s review for possible listing under Proposition 65 and is initiating the development of hazard identification materials on these chemicals.  The chemicals are listed in Table 1 below. 

Table 1. Chemicals Selected for Preparation of Cancer Hazard Identification Materials and Review for Possible Listing by the Carcinogen Identification Committee

These chemicals were selected using the procedure described in the document entitled: “Process for Prioritizing Chemicals for Consideration under Proposition 65 by the State’s Qualified Experts,” adopted in 2004, and available on the Internet at www.oehha.ca.gov. 

Following this prioritization process, OEHHA identified these three chemicals through application of an epidemiology data screen and a preliminary compilation and review of the toxicological evidence related to their carcinogenicity.  On this basis OEHHA proposed these chemicals for Committee review and consultation.  On September 7, 2007, OEHHA released for public comment the three chemicals proposed for Committee review, along with a summary of the available scientific information on each chemicals potential to cause cancer.  These materials were also provided to the Committee and made available on OEHHA’s Web site.  The Committee met to consider these materials at a public meeting on November 19, 2007.  At this meeting, the Committee advised OEHHA, by majority vote, to proceed with the process of preparing hazard identification materials for each of the three chemicals.  These hazard identification materials will be presented at a subsequent meeting for Committee review for possible listing of the chemical under Proposition 65.  After considering this input from the Committee and public comments, OEHHA has selected all three chemicals for preparation of cancer hazard identification materials and Committee review. 

By this notice, OEHHA is providing the public an opportunity to provide information relevant to the assessment of the evidence of carcinogenicity for any of the chemicals listed in Table 1.  Relevant information includes but is not limited to: cancer bioassays, cancer epidemiological studies, genotoxicity testing, and other pertinent data on pharmacokinetics, biomarkers, and effects on biochemical and physiological processes in humans for any of the three chemicals.  Interested parties or members of the public wishing to provide such information should send it to the address given below. 

The publication of this notice marks the start of a 60-day data call-in period.  This period will end on Tuesday, February 20, 2008.  The information received during this data call-in period will be reviewed and considered by OEHHA as it prepares the cancer hazard identification materials on these chemicals.  This request for information is the next step in the process described in the 2004 prioritization procedure. 

Notification of the availability of the hazard identification materials and of the time, date, location, and agenda of the meetings of the Carcinogen Identification Committee where these chemicals will be considered will be provided in subsequent notices published in the California Regulatory Notice Register and will also be posted on OEHHA’s website.  It is anticipated that the hazard identification materials will be made available for a 60-day comment period prior to the Committee meetings at which these chemicals will be considered.

Relevant information on these chemicals should be submitted to:

the Proposition 65 Office
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Proposition 65 Implementation
P.O. Box 4010
1001 I Street, 19th Floor
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
FAX:  (916) 323-8803
Or via e-mail to P65Public.Comments@oehha.ca.gov

It is requested that all hard-copy materials be submitted in triplicate.

Submissions may also be delivered in person or by courier to the above address.  In order to be considered, the relevant information must be received at OEHHA (if delivered in person or sent by FAX) by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 19, 2008.

Chemical Reference

• 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene
• Cannabis (Marijuana) Smoke

Related Notices

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

  Sep 7, 2007
• Meeting Synopsis and Slide Presentations from the Carcinogen Identification Committee Meeting Held on November 19, 2007

  Dec 12, 2007
• Availability of Final Prioritization Document to be Used by OEHHA to Identify Candidate Chemicals to be Considered by the CIC and DARTIC for Possible Listing

  Dec 17, 2004
• Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for Marijuana Smoke

  Mar 20, 2009
• Availability of Hazard Identification Materials for 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene

  Aug 15, 2008
• November 5, 2008 Meeting of The Science Advisory Board’s Carcinogen Identification Committee

  Dec 5, 2008