Six California Prop 65 60-Day Notices Issued for Hexavalent Chromium on Leather Products

Six California Proposition 65 (Prop 65) 60-day notices have recently been issued in relation to the use of hexavalent chromium in leather goods. These serve as an intent to instigate legal proceedings.

Chromium (hexavalent compounds, Cr (VI)) was included on the Prop 65 list in 1987, as a chemical that causes cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive problems. Since 1987 there had been no settlements relating to this substance and its use in textiles, footwear or accessories.

That has now changed, with hexavalent chromium compounds becoming a frequent Prop 65 target for gloves made from leather. Six “Notices of Violation” have now been issued to address consumer exposure to Cr (VI) in a variety of leather products, including:

• Work and gardening gloves
• Sports gloves
• Driving and fashion gloves
• Golf gloves

Human exposure to Cr (VI) occurs through ingestion via hand to mouth contact after wearing, touching or handling these products. There is also the possibility of dermal absorption. Adverse health effects associated with Cr (VI) exposure include nasal, throat, or respiratory irritation or allergies.

Cr (VI) is often formed inadvertently as an unwanted by-product during the tanning process in leather manufacturing, and in storage and shipment of those leather products.

California Proposition 65 (Prop 65), or the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, was passed in November 1986. It requires the state to maintain a list of chemicals (Prop 65 List) known to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm. This list now contains approximately 900 substances.

Businesses operating in California must provide ‘a clear and reasonable warning’ (Prop 65 Warning) before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a substance above a safe level on the Prop 65 List.

SGS Softlines Services
SGS has a worldwide network of over 40 state-of-the-art laboratories specializing in testing of apparel, footwear and home textiles. Their committed team is drawn from multi-disciplinary backgrounds, allowing them to carry out a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. SGS helps companies ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Learn more about SGS’s Softlines Services. [www.sgs.com/softlines]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full California Proposition 65 – 60 Day-Notices on Hexavalent Chromium on Leather Products SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2019/06/safeguards-07919-california-proposition-65-60-day-notices-on-hexavalent-chromium-on-leather-products]

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For further information contact:

Louann Spirito
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
Tel: +1 973 461 7919
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/softlines
LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

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