California’s Prop 65 and Fumonisin B1 Public Health Concerns

LA Testing provides analytical services to protect the public and help businesses comply with California’s Proposition 65.
 
Garden Grove, CA, September 6th, 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 fumonisin B1, the most prevalent member of a family of toxins known as fumonisins.    
 
Several species of Fusarium fungi are known to produce fumonisin B1.  The toxin may be present when corn, wheat and other cereal crops become contaminated with the growth of the fungi.  It is known to be one of the most common seed-borne fungi associated with corn.  The toxin is both hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic.
 
“While most research associated with exposure to fumonisin B1 has centered around ingestion from food products, the fungi is also frequently associated with water damaged indoor environments that have elevated levels of mold growth,” reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc., a leading indoor air quality (IAQ) and food testing laboratory.  “This mycotoxin may also be present in these structures with mold growth due to water damage or elevated humidity levels, but there has been little scientific research to correlate inhalation exposures in the indoor environment.”
 
According to an article from volume 3, number 4 of the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases publication, “Many mycotoxins with different chemical structures and widely differing biologic activities have been identified. Mycotoxins may be carcinogenic (e.g., aflatoxins B1, ochratoxin A, fumonisin B1), estrogenic (zearalenone and I and J zearalenols), nephrotoxic (ochratoxins, citrinin, oosporeine), dermonecrotic (trichothecenes), or immunosuppressive (aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, and T-2 toxin).”
 
LA Testing provides testing services for fumonisin B1 and other mycotoxins found in foods and indoor environments.  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) 800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com