Request for Information on Chemicals to be Considered by DART Identification Committee

May 29, 1998

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; Health and Safety Code Section 25249.5 et seq.). The Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant (DART) Identification Committee of OEHHA's Science Advisory Board serve as the State's qualified experts for rendering an opinion as to whether a chemical has been clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause reproductive toxicity. Chemicals so identified by the Committee are added to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity.

On December 5, 1997, OEHHA published a public notice in the California Regulatory Notice Register announcing its intent to list under Proposition 65 several chemicals, including benzo(a) pyrene and zearalenone, as causing reproductive toxicity. After further evaluation of the supporting information relevant to benzo(a) pyrene, technical grade DDT and zearalenone, OEHHA determined that the regulatory criteria for formal identification via the authoritative bodies listing mechanism as specified in Section 12306(d), Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations (22CCR) has not been met. These chemicals will instead be referred to the DART Identification Committee for consideration.

OEHHA will review the available reproductive toxicity literature and data on benzo(a)pyrene, technical grade DDT and zearalenone, and draft hazard identification documents. The DART Identification Committee will consider these hazard identification documents before rendering an opinion as to whether these chemicals cause reproductive toxicity. Interested parties or members of the public wishing to provide information relevant to an assessment of the reproductive and developmental toxicity of benzo(a)pyrene, technical grade DDT and zearalenone should forward such information to the address given below. The publication of this notice marks the start of a 60-day data call-in period. This period ends on July 28, 1998. The information received during this data call-in period will be reviewed and considered by OEHHA as it develops the draft reproductive and developmental toxicity hazard identification documents on these compounds.

OEHHA welcomes public participation and public input as part of these scientific assessments. If there is sufficient public interest, a public workshop or other public forum will be held to encourage scientific dialogue prior to completion of the draft hazard identification documents.

Notification of the availability of the draft hazard identification documents and of the time, date, location, and agenda of any workshops and of the meetings of the DART Identification Committee where benzo(a)pyrene, technical grade DDT and zearalenone will be discussed will be provided in future notices published in the California Regulatory Notice Register and posted on OEHHA's Home Page. It is anticipated that the draft hazard identification documents will be made available for a 60 day public comment period prior to the committee meetings at which these chemicals will be considered.

Relevant information on benzo(a)pyrene, technical grade DDT and zearalenone should be sent in triplicate by mail or fax to:

the Proposition 65 Office
Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment
Post Office Box 4010
Sacramento, CA 95812-4010
Fax (916) 327-1097
Telephone (916) 445-6900

Relevant information 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 by 5:00 PM on July 28, 1998.

On a related but separate subject, on December 26, 1997 OEHHA published a public notice in the California Regulatory Notice Register requesting any relevant information and data on carbamazepine. The request for information was in anticipation of the preparation of a draft hazard identification document on the chemical for the DART Identification Committee's consideration. No comments were received. Recently, OEHHA obtained information concerning carbamazepine that indicates that it is a candidate for administrative listing based upon the formal requirement of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that carbamazepine be labeled or identified as causing reproductive toxicity. Thus, a draft hazard identification document for carbamazepine is not being prepared at this time, and it is anticipated that the chemical will not be reviewed by the DART Identification Committee. Carbamazepine will be announced as a possible candidate for administrative listing in a future public notice which will be published in the California Regulatory Notice Register