In November 2017, both PFOA and PFOS were added to Prop 65 as regulated chemicals. PFOA and PFOS have been discovered to cause reproductive toxicity. Applied Technical Services provides Prop 65 PFOA and PFOS Testing to ensure compliance with the warning labeling mandate.
Additives and Toxicants
Perfluoroctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a chemical used to treat the surface of many consumer products. PFOS promotes oil-resistant and waterproof characteristics in its substrate, making it a must-have additive for textiles, non-stick cookware, leather, and carpets.
Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) serves similar functions in manufacturing, making products more resistant to heat, stain, and water. Both chemicals are also potential contaminants that can cause reproductive toxicity in humans.
How They Relate to Prop 65
PFOA and PFOS were added to Proposition 65’s list of regulated chemicals on November 10, 2017. Formally known as California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, Prop 65 maintains a list of chemicals that cause either reproductive toxicity or cancer. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers this list, adding and subtracting chemicals of concern as relevant.
Prop 65 also mandates that businesses operating within the State of California provide a warning label for any product or workplace that would expose a consumer to one of the nearly 950 listed chemicals so that concerned citizens may be apprised of the potential risk. Failing to display a sufficient warning opens companies to both litigation and punitive fines of $2500 per day for each violation.
Getting Help With Compliance
Prop 65 pertains to all companies that operate in the state of California (with 10 or more employees), not just those who are headquartered there. That means that international companies selling products in California must label their products just like local shops. Yet many companies don’t know whether they need to label their product, or whether it qualifies for exemption from the labeling mandate. To determine whether products contain PFOA or PFOS, as well as how much is in them, manufacturers send samples to labs like Applied Technical Services for Prop 65 compliance testing.
About our Prop 65 PFOA and PFOS Testing Method
ATS uses either High-Performance Liquid-Chromatography/Thermospray/Mass-Spectroscopy (HPLC/TS/MS) or Ultraviolet (UV) Detection to perform Prop 65 PFOA and PFOS testing. These methods allow our chemists to measure compounds of interest with a detection limit of 100 parts-per-trillion (ppt).
ATS and Toxicant Analysis
For over 50 years, ATS has provided testing, inspections, and engineering consulting services of the highest standard. We are proud to serve clients from around the world who represent an array of industries. Our talented chemists return accurate findings within quick turnaround windows because of their expertise in performing these testing methods and their access to ATS’ powerful analytical equipment.
Let us test your product for regulated chemicals like PFOA and PFOS. Call +1 (888) 287-5227 or submit a request online.
