OEHHA Extends Comment Period on Beta-Myrcene as Carcinogen
California EPA’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA)
has extended the comment period on its notice of intent to list beta-myrcene
as known to the state to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic
Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65). OEHHA took the action at the request of
several trade organizations, including the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers
Association, North America Juice Products Association, and Renewable Citrus
Products Association. The new comment deadline is March 24, 2014.
OEHHA has proposed adding beta-myrcene—a natural food-plant constituent
used as a flavoring agent in food and beverages—to the Prop. 65 list under
the authoritative bodies listing mechanism. According to the agency, the
National Toxicology Program and several other institutions have concluded
that the chemical causes kidney cancer in male rats and liver cancer in male
mice. See OEHHA News Release, March 4, 2014.
In other OEHHA action, the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee will meet on March 19 to discuss, among other matters, its reconsideration of the listing under the Labor Code of six chemicals as known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity. Among them are diglycidyl ether, a derivative of bisphenol A used in epoxy resins, and α-methylstyrene, used in the manufacture of plasticizers, resins and polymers. The committee is also scheduled to consider “how to tabulate data from epidemiological and animal studies in hazard identification documents.” Those wishing to speak during the meeting for longer than five minutes may request additional time at least three business days before the meeting. See OEHHA News Release, March 7, 2014.
