California’s Prop 65 and Public Health Concerns over Methylhydrazine

Garden Grove, CA, December 3, 2012

In 1986, California voters approved an initiative to address increasing concerns over 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 methylhydrazine and its salts, which were added to the Prop 65 list in 1992. 

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to high levels of methylhydrazine may cause lacrimation, eye redness, nasal and respiratory irritation, headache, malaise, vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia, anoxia, cyanosis, tremors, and convulsions in humans.  Acute exposure to methylhydrazine in humans has also been observed to affect the blood, kidneys, and liver. Methylhydrazine is highly corrosive and irritating to the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes of the respiratory system in humans and animals.  Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to methylhydrazine has been observed to impair function of the kidneys and liver, affect the blood and spleen, and cause convulsions in animals.”

LA Testing offers testing services to identify methylhydrazine to help prevent exposure to people from this potentially harmful chemical in the environment or in the work place.  “Methylhydrazine is used as a high-energy fuel in military applications and as a fuel for small electrical power generating units,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “Occupational exposure to methylhydrazine can occur within industries that utilize this highly corrosive chemical.  Occupational exposure testing can determine if this chemical poses a threat to workers,” he continued. 

To learn more about testing for methylhydrazine or other 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

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

LA Testing

(1) 1-866-798-1089

jfrasca@emsl.com