Proposition 65 in the State of California and the DINP transition for Vinyl Gloves

Proposition 65 is explained as “The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of

1986” that was taken into initiative and become a ballot during the month of November. The

main purpose of this ballot was to protect the State of California’s water supply from chemicals

that will cause newborn birth defects, cancer or other reproductive toxicity. This ballot requires

the State of California to inform businesses and the public about the huge amounts of chemicals

they purchase on a daily basis for their occupations or homes. The public can also form their own

decisions based on this ballot and how they want to protect themselves and stay safe. The Office

of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is the main administrator for Proposition

65 and reviews all of the chemical and scientific information. This ballot bans all of the business

in the State of California from sending information regarding the chemicals into the water

supply. The chemicals inside the Proposition 65 include additives that are discovered in

household products, cars, people’s eyes, family’s food supply and also in drugs.

Method

There are four types of methods on how the chemicals can become included into the

ballot. The first method is if two independent committees, (Carcinogen Identification Committee

and the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee) members of the

OEHHA’s Science Advisory Board) discover the chemicals damages mothers during child birth.

CIC and DRTIC are elected by the Governor of California t conduct a scientific study on the

ballot’s chemicals and its effects on child birth, form their decisions based on the information

available and also ask the public based on their thoughts of the chemicals. The second method on

how the chemicals are included into the list is if an organization created an “authoritative body”

surrounded around the two organizations and classify the chemical can develop reproductive

harm to the mother during child birth. The United States EPA (Environmental Protection

Agency), United States Food Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and

Health, National Toxicology Program, and International Agency for Research on Cancer has all

been identified as “authoritative bodies”. The third method is if an organization classifies the

chemical in Proposition 65 as a type of cancer that causes reproductive harm during child birth.

The fourth method requires the list of chemicals in Proposition 65 meets certain scientific

requirements and is classified by the California Labor Code as a type of cancer that causes

reproductive harm during child birth.

Main Requirements of Proposition 65

Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment explains the main requirements of

Proposition 65. The State of California requires every business to provide a “clear and

reasonable warning” before notifying the public about the harmful effects of the chemical, i.e.

labeling of products, advertising in a newspaper, posting information in a workplace and

notifying employees, or posting information on the streets of California. Proposition 65 has

banned companies and organizations that conducts business in the State of California from

distributing information about the types of chemicals in the water supply. If a business in the

State of California has less than 10 employees in their workforce, then those specific companies

are banned from the prohibition of Proposition 65’s warning requirements on the water supply

discharge.

California Proposition 65 on DINP in Vinyl Gloves

According to Medline Industries, Inc. there is a F&Q flyer that explains in detail the

California Proposition on the DINP that was included in vinyl gloves for businesses in the State

of California. DINP (Diisononyl phthalate) is a type of phthalate plasticizer that are used by

manufactures that produce vinyl products like footwear, electrical wire and gloves for medical

surgery procedures to be functional. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard

Assessment included DINP into the Proposition 65 chemical list that has been known by

scientific studies and examination “to cause cancer”. Governmental organizations, i.e. Consumer

Product Safety Commission and the European Chemicals Agency, have mentioned the chemicals

inside Proposition 65 have no major effect on a human’s health. According to Proposition 65, the

manufactures that are distributing DINP in the State of California will have to either remove the

DINP label on their products or place a label by December 20th, 2014. Medline Industries

included labels on all of their vinyl glove products and are committed to the health and safety of

their employees.

Health Risks of DINP

Medline Industries mentioned the DINP in the vinyl gloves has no health risks and are

perfectly safe in the medical and glove industry. Vinyl exam gloves have a FDA regulation as a

type of medical device that demands Premark submissions (510 (k)) before they are distributed

to other companies. The exam gloves have been FDA cleared that achieves 510 (k) and the

product-meeting requirement that doesn’t require a carcinogen label on the product’s packaging.

The State of California demands a carcinogen label on every product before they are distributed

to other companies in California.

Length of DINP on Products

Medline Industries explained if a vinyl product that is DINP labeled and does not abide

by the Proposition 65 warning after December 20th, 2014, then the product violates Proposition

65 requirements. The manufacture has a major responsibility for any non-compliant product that

has been resold through the State of California in the future. This type of exposure is correlated

with the distribution chain, distributor, retailer, manufacture and importer of companies in the

State of California.

Solutions for DINP and Advertising

There are four solutions when a chemical is on the Proposition 65 and the seller’s

exposure to the vinyl chemicals. The first option for this solution is to remove that

product from the California market, 2) advertise the product more effectively so

manufactures and sellers become more interested in that product without the chemical

list, 3) lessen the exposure level of the product and the human health level so it is lower

than the No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) and/or the Maximum Allowable Dose Levels

(MADLs) and 4) label the product in an effective way so the product has a health

warning and includes a dangerous substance. The High Phthalates Panel of the American

Chemistry Council has planned to develop a type of resource that estimates the exposure

levels of chemicals from the vinyl products before the products are distributed to

companies. A vinyl glove product can still be sold in the State of California only if the

product includes a chemical list that has “safe harbor language” advertised in a safe

manner. A warning must be advertised on every vinyl product in a clear and professional

manner so the product is readable for production and/or distribution. Medline has

provided safety information with a line of vinyl gloves that has the “Proposition 65

warning statement so businesses in California will become educated about the safety and

health information of this product. The American Chemistry Institute has filed a lawsuit

against California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment to remove the

DINP from the Proposition 65 chemical list.