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USA: California adds soluble nickel compounds to Proposition 65 list

october 2018- Relevant for: electrical and electronics, softlines, hardlines, toys and children's products

The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has recently added¹ soluble nickel compounds to the chemical list² as known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (commonly known as Proposition 65³ ). The warning requirement of soluble nickel compounds will take effect from 26 October 2019 by following the Proposition 65 new warning regulations⁴ that are already in place since 30 August 2018.

The metal and several of its compounds are already listed for carcinogenicity under Proposition 65. OEHHA’s Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) had been tasked to meet and decide whether to list nickel and its compounds under Proposition 65 or not since 2015. Recently in October, DARTIC determined at a public meeting that soluble nickel compounds were shown to cause reproductive toxicity based on the developmental and male reproductive endpoints.

Table 1. Full list of nickel and nickel compounds under Proposition 65

[1] OEHHA lists soluble nickel compounds under Proposition 65

[2] Proposition 65 chemical list

[3] Proposition 65

[4] TÜV SÜD Proposition 65 Infosheet, Aug 2018