Chemicals Listed Effective November 10, 2017 as Known to the State of California to Cause Reproductive Toxicity: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)

Effective November 10, 2017, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is adding perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity (developmental endpoint) for purposes of Proposition 65[1].  

The listing of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is based on formal identification by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), an authoritative body[2], that the chemicals cause reproductive toxicity.  The criteria used by OEHHA for the listing of chemicals under the “authoritative bodies” mechanism can be found in Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25306.

The documentation supporting OEHHA’s determination that the criteria for administrative listing have been satisfied for PFOA and PFOS is included in the “Notice of Intent to List: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)” posted on OEHHA’s website and published in the September 16, 2016 issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2016, No. 38-Z).  The publication of the notice initiated a public comment period that closed on November 16, 2016.  OEHHA received six public comments on perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate.  The comments and OEHHA’s responses are posted with the Notice of Intent to List.

A complete, updated chemical list is published in this issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register and is available on the OEHHA website at http://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list.    

In summary, PFOA and PFOS are listed under Proposition 65 as known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity, as follows:

Chemical

CAS No.

Endpoint

Listing Mechanism*

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

335-67-1

Developmental toxicity

AB (US EPA)

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)

1763-23-1

Developmental toxicity

AB (US EPA)

*Listing mechanism:  AB – “authoritative bodies” mechanism (Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs. section 25306).

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Footnotes and References

[1] The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq.

[2] See Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(b) and Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25306.