The California Prop 65 List is a public index of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals that are known to cause cancer and reproductive harm. This list was established by Proposition 65—a law officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986—to inform Californians about potential exposure to harmful chemicals. Proposition 65 also requires businesses to notify Californians about significant exposures to any of the chemicals listed and prohibits businesses from deliberately releasing listed chemicals into sources of drinking water.
The list is updated annually, and currently includes approximately 900 chemicals. These chemicals can be found in a wide range of products in the home, workplace, and environment, or within water supplies. These include additives or ingredients in common household products, food, dyes, materials used in manufacturing and construction, and chemical byproducts such as vehicle exhaust. The law states that warnings must be issued on any product label or in any workplace, business, or rental property that exposes individuals to significant levels of one or more listed toxins. The Proposition 65 program is administered by the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA), which is part of the California Environmental Protection Agency. The California Attorney General’s Office, any district attorney, city attorney, or individual can enforce Proposition 65 and prosecute violations.