Prioritization - Chemicals Identified for Consultation with the Proposition 65 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee: Benzo[a]pyrene, Deltamethrin, Methyl parathion, Uranium and Xylene

May 20, 2011

This notice announces the beginning of the public comment period on the five chemicals listed below. These chemicals will be discussed at the next meeting of the Proposition 65 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC). The DARTIC is the state’s qualified experts on reproductive toxicity for purposes of the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). The DARTIC’s next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, July 12 and 13, 2011, when the DARTIC will provide OEHHA with advice on the prioritization of these chemicals for possible preparation of hazard identification materials. At a later date, OEHHA will select chemicals for preparation of hazard identification materials and announce those decisions in a separate notice. No listing decisions will be made for these chemicals at the July 12 and 13 meetings.

The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the lead agency for the implementation of Proposition 65. OEHHA has screened several hundred chemicals in the OEHHA tracking database for evidence of reproductive toxicity hazard as well as potential human exposure in California. This initial screening follows the procedure described in the 2004 “Process for Prioritizing Chemicals for Consideration under Proposition 65 by the State’s Qualified Experts".

OEHHA first screened candidate chemicals in the tracking database to identify chemicals that have been found in humans, and then screened that subset of candidate chemicals for those that have a substantial amount of relevant toxicological animal data. Utilization of these screens was discussed at the October 21, 2010 meeting of the DARTIC. A summary of the October 21 meeting is available here. Based on this preliminary evaluation, OEHHA identified the five chemicals listed below for committee discussion, advice and possible preparation of hazard identification materials for consideration at future DARTIC meetings.

The five chemicals are:

Benzo[a]pyrene
Deltamethrin
Methyl parathion
Uranium
Xylene

On July 12, the meeting will be held in the Auditorium at the Secretary of State building, 1500 11th Street in Sacramento, California and on July 13, the meeting will be held in the Coastal Hearing Room, Cal/EPA Headquarters building, 1001 I Street in Sacramento, California. The meeting will begin at 10:00 a.m. and end at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday and begin at 9:00 a.m. and end when all business is conducted or until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. The agenda for the meeting will be provided in a future public notice published in advance of the meeting.

Copies of the summaries of available scientific information on the chemicals and related attachments are available above, or may be requested by calling (916) 445-6900.

Interested parties may provide comment on the extent of the scientific evidence pertaining to the selection and priority of any of these chemicals for possible preparation of hazard identification materials. OEHHA must receive comments and any supporting documentation by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 20, 2011. We encourage you to submit comments in electronic form, rather than in paper form. Comments transmitted by e-mail should be addressed to sam.delson@oehha.ca.gov. Comments submitted in paper form may be mailed, faxed, or delivered in person to the addresses below:

Mailing Address:
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

OEHHA will organize and index the comments received and forward the information to the DARTIC members prior to the July 12 and 13 meetings at which the chemicals will be considered.