Prop 65 - What is Proposition 65?

What is it and why was it created? Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, was created by the State of California to address residents concern with exposure to toxic chemicals. Originally, the proposition was intended to protect drinking water sources from toxic substances, although it has recently been expanded to a much larger spectrum. According to the Los Angeles Times, "Warnings (about Proposition 65) are everywhere: parking lots, hardware stores, hospitals and just about any decent-sized business."

What chemicals are on the Proposition 65 list? The list is currently made up of over 800 chemicals and elements that are labeled as a carcinogen or a reproductive toxicant by he California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). Many of these common chemicals and elements (such as wood dust, brass, and nickel) are additives found in common everyday products, like furniture, food, automobiles, tableware, and many others.

What does this mean for Jonti-Craft? Since it is possbile that there could be a small amount of wood dust (or some of the other hundreds of elements) on our furniture and packing, we are required to have Proposition 65 warning lables on all of our products. Plus, we are required to use OEHHA's exact wording of: "This product contains chemicals known to the state of California to cause cancer."

What does this mean for you?This warning can sound very distressing, but we want to make sure you know that Jonti-Craft products are safe for both you and your children. There is some research that supports health-related risks from exposure to particules of wood dust, this research also shows that the key factor in determining the health risk is the amount of exposure to wood dust. These hazardous exposure limits are generally found in the workplace when wood is being sawed or sanded, and have NOT been found to be present on Jonti-Craft products being shipped to our retailers and customers.

Jonti-Craft does not take your health lightly. We have been, and always will be, committed to providing only the safest and highest quality products for the early learning furniture industry. Plus, as you can see from this page, we have attained multiple certifications and have worked hard to meet or exceed environmental and safety standards to ensure our products are safe for consumers of all ages.