Availability of Hazard Identification Document for Xylene

California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) recently announced the availability for public review of the hazard identification document entitled: “Evidence on the Developmental and Reproductive Toxicity of Xylene.” This notice marks the beginning of a 60-day public comment period on this document. The public comment period will close on 27 November 2012. Copies of the document are available at: http://www.oehha.ca.gov/prop65.html. OEHHA, a department of the California Environmental Protection Agency, is the lead agency for the implementation of Proposition 651. The Developmental and Reproductive Toxicant Identification Committee (DARTIC) advises and assists OEHHA in compiling the list of chemicals known to the State to cause reproductive toxicity, as required by Proposition 65. The DARTIC serves as the State’s qualified experts for determining whether a chemical has been clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause reproductive toxicity. It is in this capacity that the DARTIC will consider xylene at a future meeting. The xylene hazard identification document provides information for the consideration of listing xylene by the DARTIC. The date and venue of the meeting at which xylene will be considered will be announced in a subsequent public notice. OEHHA will send comments received on the xylene hazard identification document to DARTIC members prior to the meeting. OEHHA provided an opportunity for input on the document as it was being developed. A data call-in period for xylene opened on 20 January 2012, and closed on 20 March 2012. No public comments were received. In preparing the hazard identification document, OEHHA considered all information that was relevant to the evidence of reproductive toxicity for xylene. OEHHA must receive comments and any supporting documentation on the xylene document by 27 November 2012.