March 16 US: Chemical Listed Effective March 16, 2012 as Known to the State of California to Cause Reproductive Toxicity: Methanol

From OEHHA:

Effective March 16, 2012, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is adding methanol (CAS No. 67-56-1) to the list of chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity for purposes of Proposition 65.1

The listing of methanol is based on formal identification by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an authoritative body,2 in a report by the NTP Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, that methanol causes reproductive toxicity (developmental endpoint).  The criteria used by OEHHA for the listing of chemicals under the “authoritative bodies” mechanism can be found in Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25306.

The documentation supporting OEHHA’s determination that the criteria for administrative listing have been satisfied for methanol is included in the Notice of Intent to List [Can you create a hyperlink to this Notice of Intent to List] published in the January 2, 2009 issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2009, No. 1-Z).

A complete, updated chemical list is published in this issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register and is available on the OEHHA website at www.oehha.ca.gov.  In summary, methanol is being listed under Proposition 65 as known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity, as follows:

Chemical CAS No. Toxicological Endpoints Listing Mechanism3
Methanol 67-56-1 developmental AB (NTP)

1The Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Health and Safety Code section 25249.5 et seq.

2 See Health and Safety Code, section 25249.8(b) and Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25306.

3 Listing mechanism:  AB – “authoritative bodies” mechanism (Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs. Section 25306).

Because of the significant public interest in methanol, an Interpretive Guideline No. 2012-001 is being published concurrently with this rulemaking notice. Follow this link to download a copy of the Interpretive Guideline.

We will keep you updated with any ongoing Prop 65 developments.