- California Law Prohibiting Phthalates in Toys and Infant Products
Effective January 1, 2009, Health & Safety Code § 108937 (AB 1108) prohibits the sale of toys or child care articles in California that contain certain phthalates. This California law restricts six particular phthalates, which are the same as those restricted by the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act: di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate ("DEHP"), dibutyl phthalate ("DBP"), benzyl butyl phthalate ("BBP"), diisononyl phthalate ("DINP"), diisodecyl phthalate ("DIDP"), and di-n-octyl phthalate ("DnOP"). Three of the phthalates, DEHP, DBP and BBP, may not be present in concentrations exceeding 0.1 percent in any toy or child care article. The remaining three phthalates, DINP, DIDP, and DnOP, are restricted to 0.1 percent only in those toys and child care articles "intended for use by a child under three years of age if that product can be placed in the child’s mouth."
The state legislature did not vest any specific state agency with the authority to enforce this law. Instead, this law may be enforced through a civil action under the CA Unfair Competition Law brought by the attorney general or a district attorney in the name of the people, or by certain city attorneys. The Department of Toxic Substances Control is not responsible for enforcement of the new phthalates law, so DTSC is unable to answer any questions regarding compliance issues. The attorney general provided comments to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding implementation of California’s law restricting phthalates and its relationship to new federal standards for phthalates; these comments are available here: http://caag.state.ca.us/prop65/pdfs/CA_phthalate_letter.pdf
- NEW -- Lead in Plumbing
Recently, the California Legislature passed laws to increase protection of the public from exposure to lead in drinking water. This was done by reducing the amount of lead allowed in plumbing components. See the Lead in Plumbing page for more information. - Chemical Information Call-In (AB289)
Assembly Bill (AB) 289 (Statutes of 2006) added new authority to the Health and Safety Code for DTSC to collaborate with companies who produce or import chemicals into California in developing information about those chemicals. Such information may include, but is not limited to, information on fate and transport in the environment, analytical test methods, bioconcentration, physical and chemical properties, and other information about chemicals of concern to the State. Initially, DTSC will call in information about carbon nanotubes. Other chemicals of concern will be considered for future call-ins. Read more about the Chemical Information Call-in Program. View the announcement on carbon nanotubes. - Green Remediation
Green Remediation is the name applied to the use of "Green" technologies for the environmental restoration of contaminated sites. The scope of the term applies to an entire remediation project beginning with the remedial investigation phase, to implementation of the remedial action plan, and continuing through the operations and maintenance phases of the project. Read more about Green Remediation.
- Nanotechnology
The unique physical, chemical, and biological properties of materials at the nanoscale enable novel applications and functions with the potential to promote enormous societal and economic benefits. However, those properties also raise concerns regarding potential environmental and human impact of these materials. Read about nanotechnology.
 Pharmaceutical Waste
The distinction between hazardous wastes and medical wastes, as they are defined by law, has hampered a truly environmentally-protective approach to the very complex issues surrounding pharmaceutical waste. Only recently have environmental agencies begun to grapple with these issues. Read more about pharmaceutical waste.
- Biomonitoring
More and more scientists and toxicologists are identifying “emerging chemicals of concern,” or ECCs and are worried about the effects from exposures to mixtures of these ECCs and/or other chemicals. Most of these ECCs, have been identified by results from biomonitoring which measured their increasing presence in humans and wildlife. Learn about biomonitoring.
 Green Chemistry
Stated most simply, green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Fewer hazardous substances means less hazardous waste and a healthier environment. Read about DTSC's involvement in Green Chemistry.
- Toxics in Packaging
Consumer goods packaging makes up a significant portion of waste going to the nation’s municipal solid waste landfills. Packaging containing toxic substances, especially heavy metals lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium, can release those poisonous or dangerous substances, contaminating the soil and groundwater surrounding the landfill. See how DTSC is addressing Toxics in Packaging.
 Restriction on the use of certain hazardous substances in electronic devices (RoHS)
The concept behind California’s RoHS Law is to limit the amounts of certain hazardous heavy metals in specific waste electronic devices so that those metals never find their way into landfills or elsewhere, where they can eventually be released into the environment. More information about California's RoHS regulations.
- Lead in Jewelry
High amounts of lead, a persistent and toxic metal, have been found in jewelry, especially inexpensive children’s jewelry. Exposures to lead can cause a host of health effects ranging from behavioral problems and learning disabilities to organ failure, and even death. Read about lead in jewelry.
- Treated Wood Waste
Learn more about the definition of treated wood and the management of treated wood waste. |
