California’s Proposition 65
What is California’s Proposition 65?
Proposition 65, officially known as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is a state law aimed at protecting Californians from exposure to harmful chemicals. The law requires California to maintain and update a list of substances known to cause cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm. Businesses selling products that contain these substances must notify consumers with a clear warning label if the exposure exceeds established safety limits.
Since its adoption, the Proposition 65 list has grown to include over 800 chemicals, many of which were added based on evidence from animal studies, even if human data is limited. The warning labels are a familiar sight across California, appearing in locations such as restaurants, stores, workplaces, and amusement parks.
Which Chemicals Are Included?
The Proposition 65 list covers a broad spectrum of chemicals, ranging from industrial materials to everyday consumer product ingredients. This includes substances found in pesticides, cleaning agents, plastics, and even common foods and supplements. Some of these chemicals, like lead, cadmium, and arsenic, are naturally present in soil and water, meaning they can unintentionally appear in natural products like herbs and minerals used in supplements.
Does Proposition 65 Apply Outside California?
Proposition 65’s regulations are specific to California. However, any company that sells products in the state—regardless of where they are based—must comply. The law does not mandate that these warnings appear on products sold in other states, so you might see the labels only in California stores or online listings targeting California consumers.
Are Products with Proposition 65 Warnings Dangerous?
Seeing a Proposition 65 warning doesn’t automatically mean the product is unsafe. The label serves to inform consumers about the presence of listed chemicals so they can make informed choices. Often, the levels of these substances are well below federal safety limits, but Proposition 65’s unique standards require the warning if they exceed California’s thresholds for daily exposure.
How Are Warning Thresholds Determined?
Proposition 65 sets strict exposure limits based on two main health risks: cancer and reproductive toxicity.
For cancer-causing substances, the law uses a "no significant risk level," which is defined as the daily exposure level that would result in no more than one additional case of cancer in 100,000 people over a 70-year lifetime.
For reproductive toxins, the benchmark is the "no observable effect level," which is the highest exposure level shown to cause no reproductive harm in studies. California applies a 1,000-fold safety factor (“no observable effect level” divided by 1,000) to this level to determine the threshold that triggers a warning label.
What Measures is ZnS Health Taking?
At ZnS Health, product quality and safety are top priorities. Every batch of raw materials and finished products undergoes thorough testing for identity and purity. This includes screening for contaminants covered under Proposition 65. If any ingredient exceeds California’s specified limits, ZnS Health applies the required warning label to comply with state law. Importantly, the levels of substances like lead or other chemicals in ZnS Health products remain within the safe intake guidelines established by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).
Where to Learn More About Proposition 65
For more details about California’s Proposition 65, including the full list of listed chemicals and regulatory guidelines, you can visit these official resources: