EU Reach
01/27/12 - The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has submitted to the European Commission a recommendation that thirteen Substances of Very High Concern should not be used without authorization in the future. These substances are all classified because of their carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction (or a combination) properties. They are used in applications where there is potential for worker exposure....
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Regulatory
01/27/12 - The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has announced its intention of listing the solvent Methyl isopropyl ketone (MIPK) (CAS# 563-80-4) as a developmental reproductive toxicant pursuant to Proposition 65?s Labor Code Mechanism. MIPK is a solvent that according to one its manufacturers (Eastman) is used in coatings, inks, pharmaceuticals, and automotive products.
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Litigation
01/27/12 - One of the features of almost all settlements of private party Proposition 65 lawsuits is a so-called "public interest release." This release is usually insisted upon by the settling defendants in order to have the settlement constitute a res judicata defense against further Prop. 65 claims based on the same set of facts. ...
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Litigation
01/27/12 - A federal District Court judge in San Diego has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Proposition 65 private plaintiff against its own testing laboratory. Judge Jeffrey T. Miller dismissed the suit by the Environmental Research Center (ERC) on the grounds that ERC failed to demonstrate that it has personal jurisdiction over the defendant, Technical Laboratories, Inc. of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
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Litigation
01/27/12 - Nine California District Attorneys have reached a settlement with Canadian-based Iovate-Health Sciences that will require the company to pay $1.5 million in penalties and reimbursement of costs, as well as place Proposition 65 warnings on some of its products. ...
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EU Reach
01/26/12 - Last year cadmium was added to the banned list of chemicals as part of the REACH chemicals legislation. All jewelry sold in the EU must be free of cadmium starting January 10, 2012....
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Update
01/25/12 - Dr. Paul Anastas, a top (EPA) scientist who heads the agency's research branch is leaving EPA and returning to Yale University in February. Anastas is known for his work on green chemistry. ...
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Regulatory
01/24/12 - As part of a settlement in a lawsuit brought against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the agency has agreed to rule on whether the controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) should be banned from use in food and beverage packaging. The new settlement requires the FDA to decide on BPA use by the end of March 2012....
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Update
01/20/12 - Lead poisoning continues to be a serious health problem for young children, especially those living in cities, so a government committee is recommending that the definition of lead poisoning be changed, to include even lower levels of exposure to the toxic chemical....
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