California’s Proposition 65 – Overview

California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, also known as Proposition 65, among other things, requires businesses to provide specific warnings to California consumers if a product sold by the business contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm, provided such exposure to the listed chemicals in those products exceeds certain, often very low, levels. Acceptable exposure levels (which do not require warnings) have been established for some chemicals by California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”). The warnings are intended to assist California consumers in making informed decisions about potential exposure to carcinogens and reproductive toxins from products containing listed chemicals.

TSW is a distributor of building materials and products. TSW is not a manufacturer of the products it sells. In addition to the general warnings provided below and throughout our website, TSW urges its customers seeking more information about the chemical compositions of certain products to contact the manufacturer and/or visit the product manufacturer’s website to assess which, if any, products have associated Prop. 65 warnings. For more information on the potential risks of exposure to such chemicals and substances, and other information regarding Prop. 65, please consult OEHHA at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65.

California Prop. 65 Warnings
The information below provides guidance with respect to some (but not all) products sold by TSW which can need Prop. 65 warnings. For more information on the types of chemicals and substances California consumers may be exposed to from other products and materials sold by TSW, please consult with the product manufacturer or a Prop. 65 technical expert.

Consumer Products
Some consumer products we sell, such as tools, dry wall materials, wood products or other products which contain metals and/or plastics, may have warnings such as:

WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including [name of one or more chemicals], which is[are] known to the State of California to cause cancer, and [name of one or more chemicals], which is[are] known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Or

WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm – www.P65warnings.ca.gov.

Or

WARNING:: Drilling, sawing, sanding, or machining wood products can expose you to wood dust, a substance known to the State of California to cause cancer. Avoid inhaling wood dust or use a dust mask or other safeguards for personal protection. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/wood.

Other products that may have Prop. 65 warnings include, but are not limited, to the following:

Tools
WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are lead from lead-based paints, crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber.

Your risk from exposure to these chemicals varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure, work in a well-ventilated area and with approved safety equipment, such as dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.

Tools and Accessories
WARNING: The metal parts of these products contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. None of these products are to come in contact with food and drinking water.

Power Tool Parts
WARNING: The metal parts of these products contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. None of these products are to come in contact with food and drinking water.

Electrical Cords
WARNING: The wires of these products contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.

Pneumatic Air fittings and Hoses
WARNING: The brass parts of these products contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling. None of these products are to come in contact with food and drinking water.

Insulation Products
Insulation products can expose you to formaldehyde, glass wool fibers and carbon- black extracts, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and petroleum asphalt (fumes), known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. Use proper protective equipment when handling. Do not inhale particles or fumes from product installation.

Steel Products
Steel products can expose you to nickel, known to the State of California to cause cancer, and lead, known to the State of California to cause both cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Cutting, grinding, welding, and handling steel products may cause exposure to nickel, lead or other Prop. 65 listed chemicals. Use proper protective equipment and do not inhale dust particles.

For background on the new Proposition 65 warnings, see https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/new-proposition-65-warnings

Proposition 65 and its regulations are posted at https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/law/proposition-65-law-and-regulations