You may have seen the following warning associated with our products, as well as on other products purchased from other manufacturers: WARNING: Cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
This warning is the result of a law passed in California in 1986, referred to as the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, or more generally referred to as “Proposition 65.”
There are over 900 chemicals on the Prop 65 list. Our products have traces of various chemicals that are on the list, but all are part of the normal manufacturing process.
Jewell Instruments will continuously review the requirements of Proposition 65 to ensure that it only is included on products that require the warning.
What Is Proposition 65?
Proposition 65 requires the state to publish a list of chemicals known to cause cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm. This list has grown to include approximately 900 chemicals. The list includes a wide variety of chemicals that can be found in many everyday items. The purpose of Proposition 65 is to ensure that people are informed about the potential exposure to these chemicals.
A warning must be given if the listed chemical is merely present in a product unless a business demonstrates that the exposure it causes poses “no significant risk.” With respect to carcinogens, the “no significant risk” level is defined as the level which is calculated to result in not more than one excess case of cancer in 100,000 individuals exposed over a 70-year lifetime.
What Does This Warning Mean?
This warning does not necessarily mean that our products will cause cancer or reproductive harm nor does it mean our product is in violation of any federal or state product-safety standards or requirements. You could think of Proposition 65 more as a ‘right to know’ law than a pure product safety law.
Why Does Jewell Instruments Include This Warning?
Proposition 65 law applies to any company that operates, manufactures, or sells products in California. Since our products are sold throughout the world, it would be extremely difficult and costly to determine which products are only brought into California. Therefore, at this time, to ensure compliance with the Proposition 65 law, we have decided to include this warning on all of our products, regardless of destination.