Request for Relevant Information on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of: Bromodichloromethane, Caffeine and Methylisocyanate

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 Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) of OEHHA’s Science Advisory Board serves 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. The chemicals identified by the DARTIC are added to the Proposition 65 list, which must be updated annually.

On January 18, 2008, OEHHA announced in a public notice published in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 08, No. 3) the selection of eight chemicals for the Committee’s review for possible listing under Proposition 65 and initiated the development of hazard identification materials for five of the eight chemicals (bisphenol A, chlorpyrifos, chromium (hexavalent), DDE, and sulfur dioxide).

By today’s notice, OEHHA is providing the public an opportunity to provide information relevant to the assessment of the evidence of developmental and reproductive toxicity for the three remaining chemicals: bromodichloromethane, caffeine, and methylisocyanate.

Table 1. Chemicals Selected for Preparation of Reproductive Toxicity Hazard Identification Materials and Review for Possible Listing by the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee

Chemical CAS No.

 

Bromodichloromethane 75-27-4
Caffeine 58-08-2
Methylisocyanate 624-83-9

These chemicals were selected using the procedure described in the document entitled: “Process for Prioritizing Chemicals for Consideration under Proposition 65 by the Sate’s Qualified Experts,” adopted in 2004.

The publication of this notice marks the start of a 60-day data call-in period. This period will end on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. The information received during this data call-in period will be reviewed and considered by OEHHA as it prepares the reproductive toxicity hazard identification materials on these chemicals. This request for information is the next step in the process described in the 2004 prioritization procedure.

OEHHA will prepare hazard identification materials for the three chemicals identified in Table 1 to be presented at a future Committee meeting no earlier than 2009 for consideration of possible listing under Proposition 65.

Notification of the availability of the hazard identification materials and of the time, date, location, and agenda for the Developmental and Reproductive Identification Committee meetings 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.

Interested parties or members of the public wishing to provide information relevant to these chemicals should send it to the address given below.

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, August 26, 2008.