Investigation of health risks to children from coloring markers
Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a scientific process of evaluating the adverse effects caused by a substance, activity, lifestyle, or natural phenomenon. OEHHA is responsible for developing and providing risk managers in state and local government agencies with toxicological and medical information relevant to decisions involving public health. State agency users of such information include all boards and departments within Cal/EPA, as well as the Department of Public Health, the Department of Food and Agriculture, the Office of Emergency Services, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Justice.
Several laws and regulations govern OEHHA's risk assessment work.
Reports, Notices, Documents
This rulemaking adds a new chapter and section to Title 27 of the California Code of Regulations: Chapter 3: Naturally Occurring Lead in Candy, section 28500. The new section establishes a “naturally occurring level” of 0.02 ppm (parts per million) for lead in candies flavored with chili and/or tamarind. Health and Safety Code Section 110552 required OEHHA to adopt this regulation.
The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is providing notice of a change made to the proposed regulation, Title 27, California Code of Regulations, section 28500 and is requesting comments on the modification to the regulatory text.
A state report released today finds that consumption of synthetic food dyes can result in hyperactivity and other neurobehavioral problems in some children, and that children vary in their sensitivity to synthetic food dyes.
The final report presents the available information on neurobehavioral effects of synthetic food dyes from studies in children and from studies in experimental animals.