In an article published on April 22, 2016 by regulatory news provider Chemical Watch, editor Kelly Franklin informs that the Californian Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has listed styrene as a substance known to the state to cause cancer under Proposition 65. The State of California had filed a notice of intent to add styrene to the Proposition 65 list of carcinogens in February 2015 (FPF reported). The listing takes effect from April 22, 2016 and manufacturers are required to label products with a warning for exposure to styrene one year from the listing date. OEHHA proposed to adopt a No Significant Risk Level (NSRL) of 27 µg/day for styrene, representing the safe harbor level below which warning is not required under Proposition 65.
According to an article published on April 29, 2016 by news provider Plastics News, “OEHHA issued a 39-page report agreeing that styrene is not the same as polystyrene (PS) and clearly stating that PS is not the subject of the proposed listing.” The Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Industry Alliance is concerned that the listing of styrene might add to “public and consumer misconceptions of EPS and polystyrene” and generally questions the benefits of Proposition 65 for consumers and making informed decisions. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) commented that “consumers can be confident that California’s Proposition 65 action on styrene does not affect the decades’-long safety assessments of polystyrene packaging used for foodservice.”
Read more
Kelly Franklin (April 22, 2016). “California lists styrene as carcinogen under Prop 65.” Chemical Watch
ACC (April 22, 2016). “Consumers can be confident in the safety of polystyrene foodservice packaging.”
Gayle S. Putrich (April 29, 2016). “California eyes labeling for styrene; rule excludes PS.” Plastics News
Anne Marie Mohan (April 29, 2016). “ACC: ‘Styrene is not polystyrene.’” Greener Package
