Effective September 30, 2016, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is adding furfuryl alcohol (CAS No. 98-00-0) to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65[1]. 

The listing of furfuryl alcohol is based on formal identification by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), an authoritative body[2], that the chemical causes cancer.  The criteria used by OEHHA for the listing of chemicals under the “authoritative bodies” mechanism can be found in Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs., section 25306.

The documentation supporting OEHHA’s determination that the criteria for administrative listing have been satisfied for furfuryl alcohol is included in the “Notice of Intent to List Furfuryl Alcohol” posted on OEHHA’s website and published in the July 31, 2015 issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register (Register 2015, No. 31-Z).  The publication of the notice initiated a public comment period that closed on September 30, 2015.  OEHHA received public comments on furfuryl alcohol.  The comments and OEHHA’s responses are posted with the Notice of Intent to List.

A complete, updated chemical list will be published in the October 14, 2016 issue of the California Regulatory Notice Register and is available on the OEHHA website at http://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list.   

In summary, furfuryl alcohol is listed under Proposition 65 as known to the state to cause cancer, as follows:

*Listing mechanism:  AB – “authoritative bodies” mechanism (Title 27, Cal. Code of Regs. section 25306).