California’s Prop 65 and Hexamethylphosphoramide Public Health Concerns

LA Testing provides analytical services to protect the public and help businesses comply with California’s Proposition 65.
 
Garden Grove, CA, October 10th, 2011
 
In 1986, California voters approved an initiative to address increasing concerns about exposure to toxic chemicals. That initiative, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, is better known by its original name of Proposition 65. 
 
Proposition 65 requires businesses to notify Californians about significant amounts of chemicals in the products they purchase, in their homes or workplaces, or that are released into the environment.  This list includes hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA), a phosphoric acid amide derivative that at room temperature is a colorless to light amber liquid.  It is used as a processing solvent and as a solvent for other polymers and for organic and organometallic reactions.  It has also been used as an antistatic agent, flame retardant and deicing additive for jet fuels.
 
According to the Report on Carcinogens, Twelfth Edition, “The routes of potential human exposure to hexamethylphosphoramide are inhalation, ingestion, and dermal contact.  The major source of exposure is probably occupational; however, the general population potentially could be exposed through release of hexamethylphosphoramide to the environment.” 
 
“Although hexamethylphosphoramide is no longer used is as large of quantities as the recent past, it is still used in industry and workplace exposures can occur.  It can also be a major concern at hazardous waste storage facilities and places it has been illegally dumped,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading environmental and industrial hygiene testing laboratory.  “Worker exposure testing can help prevent human contact and environmental testing can determine if it could be a possible risk to people and the environment,” he continued.
 
LA Testing provides services to test for hexamethylphosphoramide and other potentially toxic materials.  To learn more about Proposition 65 testing services please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794. 
 
About LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.
LA Testing and EMSL Analytical are providers of environmental testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.

Contact Information

Joe Frasca

Senior Vice President, Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc. dba LA Testing

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@EMSL.COM