California 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.
Chain of Supply
Gypsum Management & Supply, Inc. (including its affiliates, subsidiaries, and divisions, “GMS”) is a distributor of building materials and products, with operations throughout the United States and Canada. GMS is not a manufacturer of the products it sells. As a distribution business in which a majority of products are purchased via purchase orders as opposed to in-store or online, GMS is not in the position to know when to label products or post signs for each product. Therefore, in addition to the general warnings provided below, GMS 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 Proposition 65 Warnings
The information below provides guidance with respect to some (but not all) products distributed by GMS 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 distributed by GMS, please consult with the product manufacturer or a Prop. 65 technical expert.
Consumer Products
Some consumer products we distribute, such as tools, dry wall, ceiling products, insulation, 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:
Drywall and Ceiling Products
Drywall and ceiling products can expose you to crystalline silica (airborne particles of respirable size) or palygorskite fibers (> 5µm in length), both known to the State of California to cause cancer. Panels do not release respirable dust in their installed state. During installation, avoid breathing dust. Avoid contact with skin or eyes and do not cut such products unless a dust collector is used or an approved respirator is worn to prevent overexposure.
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.
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