- The ARC - California Edition -

Chemicals and Reproductivity

Chemistry is a science that deals with the composition and properties of substances, and the reactions by which substances are produced from or converted into other substances. In today’s world, there are tens of thousands of chemicals that come in contact with the mammals of our environment (including humans).

Some chemicals are actually selected to be manufactured and produced because that chemical has the ability to destroy unwanted pests and plants. These same chemicals often have the capability to wreak havoc on a human’s reproductive system or fetus. Usually a person knows when they are being exposed to a potentially dangerous chemical, but many times they do not.

In November 1986 - ten years ago - the voters of this state overwhelmingly approved an initiative known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. By this action, the people of California essentially told our government - enough is enough. "Set up a system to identify and officially report the names of chemicals used or sold within California which are known to be Reproductive Toxins (causes damage to the fetus or the reproductive system)." This measure also includes chemicals which are Carcinogens (causes cancer).

Proposition 65 in itself does not ban the sale nor the use of chemicals just because it is known to be a reproductive toxin. Banning still requires specific action by our state government to revoke a license for the sale or use of the chemical. The purpose of Proposition 65 was to make people aware of the chemicals and minerals which can have adverse health effects on humans. Almost all of the chemicals on the list are still being sold within this state.

This California law dictates that "no person can knowingly discharge a listed chemical into water or onto or into land where such chemical probably will pass into any source of drinking water." It further requires that "no person shall knowingly expose any individual to one of these chemicals without first giving clear and reasonable warning to such individual." That is all it says.

- Peter Leibert, Editor