Assembly Instructions

Questions & Answers about Proposition 65
• What is Proposition 65?
Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about significant
exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
These chemicals can be in the products that Californians purchase, in their homes or
workplaces, or that are released into the environment. By requiring that this information
be provided, Proposition 65 enables Californians to make informed decisions about
their exposures to these chemicals.
Proposition 65 also prohibits California businesses from knowingly discharging
significant amounts of listed chemicals into sources of drinking water.
Proposition 65 requires California to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer,
birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list, which must be updated at least once
a year, has grown to include approximately 900 chemicals since it was first published in
1987.
• What types of chemicals are on the Proposition 65 list?
The list contains a wide range of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals that
include additives or ingredients in pesticides, common household products, food, drugs,
dyes, or solvents. Listed chemicals may also be used in manufacturing and
construction, or they may be byproducts of chemical processes, such as motor vehicle
exhaust.
• What does a warning mean?
If a warning is placed on a product label or posted or distributed at a workplace, a
business, or in rental housing, the business issuing the warning is aware or believes
that it is exposing individuals to one or more listed chemicals.
By law, a warning must be given for listed chemicals unless the exposure is low enough
to pose no significant risk of cancer or is significantly below levels observed to cause
birth defects or other reproductive harm.
• Where can I get more information on Proposition 65?
If you have specific questions on the administration or implementation of Proposition 65,
you can contact OEHHA's Proposition 65 program at [e-mail], or
by phone at [phone].
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