Proposition 65 (Prop 65) is a California Law that requires businesses to provide warnings to California residents about harmful exposures to chemicals. These types of chemicals can be found in products, in buildings, and in the environment. By requiring that residents are warned of harmful chemical exposure, Proposition 65 permits Californians to make informed decisions in product purchases and exposure to harmful chemicals.

A violation of Prop 65 occurs when the public is exposed, without adequate warning, to harmful chemicals known by the State of California to cause one or multiple of the following three types of harm:

• Cancer
• Reproductive Harm
• Developmental Toxicity

The Prop 65 list is made up of over 900 chemicals, both synthetic and natural occurring. The Office of California Environmental Health Hazard Assessment maintains a list of all chemicals listed on Prop 65 which can be found here.

Although many fail to do so, manufacturers and retailers are required by California Law to post warnings on their products if they violate Prop 65. These warnings are characterized by a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark in the center and are accompanied by text stating the harm they can cause.

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment is a great resource to learn more about Prop 65 and can be found here.