Regulatory Information

Why are we required to give you this warning?

Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide warnings to Californians about exposures to chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. These chemicals can be in purchased products, in homes or workplaces, or released into the environment.

Proposition 65 also prohibits California businesses from knowingly discharging significant amounts of listed chemicals into sources of drinking water.

What is California Proposition 65?

Proposition 65, officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was enacted as a ballot initiative in November 1986. The proposition protects the state’s drinking water sources from being contaminated with chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and requires businesses to inform Californians about exposures to such chemicals. Proposition 65 requires the state to maintain and update a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. This list, which must be updated at least once a year, has grown to include approximately 900 chemicals since it was first published in 1987.

What chemicals on the Proposition 65 list are commonly found in wood cabinets?

Formaldehyde gas is listed as a carcinogen on the Proposition 65 list and it is found in small amounts in all wood products. It is also used in making resins and adhesives for some composite wood products such as plywood, particleboard, and MDF that are used to manufacture cabinets. Small amounts of residual Formaldehyde can also be found in some paints, lacquers, and other coatings used on cabinets. Most of the formaldehyde from cabinets is off-gassed during the manufacturing process but trace amount may still be present.

Wood dust is also listed as a carcinogen and exposure can occur during installation of cabinets from drilling and cutting wood.

What is formaldehyde?

Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling gas at room temperature which is naturally occurring and can also be produced synthetically. Formaldehyde in liquid form is found naturally in all animals and plants, including wood. Formaldehyde is also an important chemical used to make many different types of products such as home furnishings, medicinal and personal care products, household cleaners, paints, textiles, landscape and yard products, and composite wood products. Formaldehyde can be released into the air (off-gas) from materials and products made with it.

How is this related to CARB Phase 2 or EPA TSCA Title VI?

There is no direct relationship between Prop 65 warning requirements and these two regulations. Prop 65 requires warning for exposure and CARB Phase 2/EPA TSCA Title VI are both regulations which impose strict limits on formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products including particleboard, plywood, and MDF. CARB Phase 2, which is a California law, and TSCA Title VI, which is a Federal law, have identical formaldehyde emissions limits. All Cabinetworks Group product is compliant with both CARB ATCM 93120 Phase 2 and EPA TSCA Title VI. These 2 regulations ensure that exposure levels are very low but there is still a requirement to label for the presence of formaldehyde under the Prop 65 warning requirements.