Notice of Intent to Add Styrene to California’s Proposition 65 List

Earlier this year, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s (Cal/EPA) Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) published an important notice in the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2014, No. 6-Z). The agency announced its intent to list styrene as known to cause cancer under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.  

OEHHA has determined that styrene meets the criteria for listing as known to the State to cause cancer under Proposition 65. Their position was based on findings from the National Toxicology Program (NTP).  

Styrene is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that is widely used to make plastics, fiberglass, rubber and latex. It is used to make polystyrene plastics and resins that can be made into foam and rigid plastic products. Styrene is used in the manufacturing of products such as tires, hoses, tanks, carpet backing, coatings, paint and metal cleaners. It is used to make resins for construction materials, boats, tubs and shower stalls. Styrene is also used in paper processing, to make dental fillings, and to make resins for various office products, including some photocopier toners and computer printer cartridges. Cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust also contain styrene. Low levels of styrene can even occur naturally in some foods.  

“The Occupational Safety & Health Administration reports that about 90,000 workers are potentially exposed to styrene nationwide,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility.  “Styrene was listed as ‘reasonably anticipated to be a carcinogen’ in the Thirteenth Report on Carcinogens published by the NTP.”  

To help prevent human exposure to styrene, LA Testing provides analytical services to detect its presence in occupational, residential and other environmental settings. They also recently sponsored an educational video about styrene and exposure concerns that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/vllDsjSFcjY.  

To learn more about testing for styrene or other environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other substances.  In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states.  LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, Garden Grove, San Leandro and San Diego.

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Joseph Frasca

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LA Testing

(1) 8563032503

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