Chemicals Proposed for Listing by the Labor Code Mechanism (Carcinogens)
The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is requesting comments as to whether the chemicals identified in the table below meet the requirements for listing under the Labor Code mechanism of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. The Act, commonly known as Proposition 65, is codified in Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq. This action is being taken pursuant to Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(a).
Chemicals Proposed for Listing Via the Labor Code (Carcinogens)
| Chemical | CAS No. | Endpoint | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amsacrine | 51264-14-3 | Cancer | IARC (2000) |
| Bleomycins | 11056-06-7 | Cancer | IARC (1987) |
| Chlorophenoxy herbicides | Not applicable | Cancer | IARC (1987) |
| Diesel fuel, marine | Not applicable | Cancer | IARC (1989) |
| Progestins | Not applicable | Cancer | IARC (1987) |
| Styrene | 100-42-5 | Cancer | IARC (2002) |
| Toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (F. verticillioides) | Not applicable | Cancer | IARC (1993) |
| Vinyl acetate | 108-05-4 | Cancer | IARC (1995b) |
| Wood dust | Not applicable | Cancer | IARC (1995a), NTP (2002) |
| Zalcitabine | 7481-89-2 | Cancer | IARC (2000) |
| Zidovudine (AZT) | 30516-87-1 | Cancer | IARC (2000) |
Background on listing by the Labor Code mechanism: Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(a) incorporated certain provisions of the California Labor Code into Proposition 65. The law requires that certain substances identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) or the National Toxicology Program (NTP) be listed as known to cause cancer under Proposition 65. Labor Code section 6382(b)(1) refers to substances identified as human or animal carcinogens by the IARC. Labor Code section 6382(d) refers to substances identified as carcinogens or potential carcinogens by the IARC or the NTP.
As the lead agency for the implementation of Proposition 65, the OEHHA evaluates whether listing under Proposition 65 is required.
OEHHA’s determination: Amsacrine, bleomycins, chlorophenoxy herbicides, marine diesel fuel, progestins, styrene, toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides), vinyl acetate, wood dust, zalcitabine, and zidovudine (AZT) each meet the requirements for listing as known to the state to cause cancer for the purposes of Proposition 65. Therefore, OEHHA proposes to add these chemicals to the Proposition 65 list.
Amsacrine: In 2000, the IARC published Volume 76 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that (1) there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of amsacrine, and (2) amsacrine is “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of both Labor Code sections 6382(b)(1) and (d).
Bleomycins: In 1987, the IARC published Supplement 7 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that bleomycins are “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B). Therefore, these substances meet the requirements of Labor Code section 6382(d).
Chlorophenoxy herbicides: In 1987, the IARC published Supplement 7 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that chlorophenoxy herbicides are “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B). Therefore, these substances meet the requirements of Labor Code section 6382(d).
Diesel fuel, marine: In 1989, the IARC published Volume 45 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that marine diesel fuel is “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of Labor Code section 6382(d).
Progestins: In 1987, the IARC published Supplement 7 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that progestins are “possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B). Therefore, these substances meet the requirements of Labor Code section 6382(d).
Styrene: In 2002, IARC published Volume 82 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that styrene is “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of Labor Code section 6382(d).
Toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides): In 1993, the IARC published Volume 56 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that (1) there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of cultures of Fusarium moniliforme that contain significant amounts of fumonisins, and (2) toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme are “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, these substances meet the requirements of both Labor Code sections 6382(b)(1) and (d). In a later monograph, IARC noted that Fusarium moniliforme is currently called Fusarium verticillioides (IARC, 2002).
Vinyl acetate: In 1995, the IARC published Volume 63 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that vinyl acetate is “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of Labor Code section 6382(d).
Wood dust: In 1995, the IARC published Volume 62 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that (1) there is sufficient evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of wood dust, and (2) wood dust is “carcinogenic to humans (Group 1).” In 2002, the NTP published its Tenth Report on Carcinogens. In this publication, the NTP concluded that wood dust is “known to be a human carcinogen.” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of both Labor Code sections 6382(b)(1) and (d).
Zalcitabine: In 2000, the IARC published Volume 76 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that (1) there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of zalcitabine, and (2) zalcitabine is “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of both Labor Code sections 6382(b)(1) and (d).
Zidovudine (AZT): In 2000, the IARC published Volume 76 of its series, IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Here, the IARC concluded that (1) there is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of zidovudine, and (2) zidovudine is “possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B).” Therefore, this substance meets the requirements of both Labor Code sections 6382(b)(1) and (d).
Request for comments: OEHHA is requesting comments as to whether the chemicals identified above meet the requirements for listing as causing cancer, as specified in Health and Safety Code section 25249.8(a). Because these are ministerial listings, comments should be limited to the question whether IARC or NTP have identified the specific chemical or substance as a known or potential human or animal carcinogen. Under this listing mechanism, OEHHA cannot consider scientific arguments concerning the weight or quality of the evidence and will not respond to such comments if they are submitted.
OEHHA must receive comments by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2009. We encourage you to submit comments in electronic form, rather than in paper form. Comments transmitted by e-mail should be addressed to coshita@oehha.ca.gov. Comments submitted in paper form may be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the address below. A public workshop will be held only upon request. Such request must be made in writing to the address below within 10 days from the publication of this notice:
Mailing Address:
Ms. Cynthia Oshita
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
P.O. Box 4010, MS-19B
Sacramento, California 95812-4010
Fax: (916) 323-8803
Street Address: 1001 I Street
Sacramento, California 95814
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Oshita at (916) 445-6900.
Link to Public Comments
- Amsacrine
- Toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme (Fusarium verticillioides)
- Wood Dust
- Zidovudine (AZT)
- Zalcitabine
- Styrene
- Vinyl Acetate
Chemical Reference
Related Notices
Footnotes and References
References
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1987). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Supplement 7. World Health Organization, Lyon, France.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1989). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 45. World Health Organization, Lyon, France.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1993). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 56. World Health Organization, Lyon, France.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1995a). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 62. World Health Organization. Lyon, France.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 1995b). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 63. World Health Organization. Lyon, France.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2000). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 76. World Health Organization. Lyon, France.
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, 2002). IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Vol. 82. World Health Organization. Lyon, France.
National Toxicology Program (NTP, 2002) Report on Carcinogens, Tenth Edition. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service.