The California Environmental Protection Agency’s (Cal/EPA’s) Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has announced the development of hazard identification materials for nickel and nickel compounds, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and its salts, and pefluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and its salts to assist in the agency’s consideration of the chemicals for possible listing under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65). Food is a major source of nickel exposure, with an average intake for adults estimated to be approximately 100 to 300 micrograms per day (µg/d), while PFOA and PFOS are chemical compounds that have been widely used in commercial and industrial applications, including food packaging and water-resistant coatings.

OEHHA specifically seeks data relevant to assessing the chemicals’ reproductive toxicity for evaluation by the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee. Comments are due by April 4, 2016. See OEHHA News Release, February 19, 2016.

 

Issue 594

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For decades, manufacturers, distributors and retailers at every link in the food chain have come to Shook, Hardy & Bacon to partner with a legal team that understands the issues they face in today's evolving food production industry. Shook attorneys work with some of the world's largest food, beverage and agribusiness companies to establish preventative measures, conduct internal audits, develop public relations strategies, and advance tort reform initiatives.

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