Hi all,
I’ve noticed on a fair percentage of models I’ve purchased recently a warning that reads something like this:
This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
I’m not that worried about it, but I was wondering what chemical is it that they’re referring to, and why only California? Surely if something was this dangerous, it would be regulated at the federal level.
Thanks,
tbdanny
The State of California doesn’t even know how to balance its budget, or even pass one in timely fashion. I know, I live there. The politicians we have elected to office are the cancer gnawing at our vitals. This notice is required on products sold in the State that contain minute quanities of carcinogens.
All chemicals in all products.
Because they are paranoid.
California has stricter laws than most places, following a ballot proposition (voter initiative) quite a a way back. One thing the law does is making it very easy to sue companies that cannot prove that their product is harmless.
So companies have legal reasons to label their products defensively - instead of trying to determine whether the amount of carcinogens is so high that it is likely to cause harm during normal use of the product, they tend to slap a boilerplate warning on every product that contains stuff on California’s list of carcinogens.
The warning does not say that the product contains amounts of carcinogens likely to cause harm - just that it contains one or more materials which has been determined to be a carcinogen - i.e to be able to cause harm.
You would have to download the current proposition 65 list from http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/prop65_list/Newlist.html to see whether it is a significant danger, or whether the materials only are likely to cause harm if you
Everything is known to the state of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
COuld be anything from lead in paint or weights to mold-release residue.
Many products, such as electric generators and certain such things are also not allowed to be sold or shipped to California. There are items one can order from a catalog or online that cannot be sold in Califorina or shipped there. Check your Harbor Freight listings. Several things are “not available in California”.
Some things may just carry that warning to cover their butts,others because the known carcinogen products are there or were used in the production.
It’s like the warning on some food products: “may have been produced in a plant that also processes peanuts, wheat gluten, dairy products, etc.” for those who may be allergic to such. It doesn’t mean it was, but may have been. Others were produced when those items were processed.
I ultimately figure it this way, I’m gonna die anyway, if buying a lcomotive or shredded scenic mateial is going to kill me, I have far more things to worry about. LIke diesel exhaust spewing out of the truck in front of me and into my vehicle on the road until I put it on “recirculation”…
OMG we’re all going to die!!! Good lord, glad I don’t live in Cali.
So are we.
Yes, you should all stay away from California.
If you came here, looking at the fantastic scenery might cause you to swerve off the road, leading to an accident. The fabulous locally-grown fresh fruit and vegetables at the Farmers’ Markets every weekend might cause you to eat too much and put on weight. And the mild winter weather might lead you to go out and take a hike – and you could sprain an ankle!
We definitely don’t need any more people here messing up our good thing, so let the Prop 65 warnings keep you far, far away. [8D]
While that big storm hits the midwest and east this weekend, it should reach about 70 degrees F here with abundant sunshine on Sunday in the Bay Area – why, you could get a sunburn!
As far as the Prop 65 warnings, you could try what we do – we don’t eat our trains, and we don’t set our layouts on fire. [;)]
Byron
California Native
I’m surprised they let people breath out there. Last time I was there (70’s) the air was so thick you could almost cut it with a knife.
Oh well, life goes on until it ends.
Have fun, (while you still can)
Sorry Colorado has California beat when it comes to Scenery (unless you are talking about the beach kind [;)]). I’ve lived in both states and CO by far has nicer scenery (especially where the railroads are).
Snow is fun stuff and no winter should go without it. [:)] plus there is skiing!
UP engines, and I would guess BNSF and any other engine belonging to a railroad that operates in California also carries such warnings about diesel fuel and it’s exhaust. Somewhere in the cab is a sticker that reads something on the order that Diesel fuel and it’s exhaust is known by the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, bad breath, etc.
Jeff
I understand they changed the wording from “in” to “to” some years ago because the way it read it sounded like you could only get cancer from those items IN California! [|)]
And to the wise guy from California that posted earlier. Yes, I like visting there but wouldn’t like to live there. I don’t want to pay a million dollars for a bungalo, the high taxes and and the high insurance, not to mention the cost of utilities. And yes, your standard of living is higher but not enough to compenstate for the costs. It seems the last I heard, more people were leaving California then moving there.[soapbox]
The so-called “Prop 65 warnings” are a great example of unintended consequences. I don’t know of ANYONE here who sees one and gives it the least mind. We have so many warning labels, everywhere we turn, that even the most fear-ridden among us seem to blow 'em off.
But this doesn’t mean that the people who helped foist this mess on us, such as Tom Hayden (Hanoi Jane’s ex) will have learned anything.
Actually, I think it’s those yellow labels that can cause cancer and birth defects. [(-D]
California - land of granola. I know, I dated two women from there.
Another local! Do we tell them that apartment houses have that label on them also, the lawyers recommend that and you should see the contract we make tenants sign so they know is they exist, they will eventually die from something!!!
I agree with Renegade about Colorado having better scenery than Cali.
We have so many people moving here from Cali, it’s getting crazy, I don’t know why they like Colorado so much.
You guys can keep your warning label’s, high air pollution, high cost of living, fires, earthquakes, mudslides, and great weather. Oh wait, that’s why they all move to Colorado… [:'(]
But, all kidding aside, to address the question a bit more seriously, there is probably something to it. How seriously should any of us be concerned. Not much. For instance, maybe the clear plastic liner that cradles the locomotive or the item of rolling stock has bisphenol-A, or BPA. There is mounting evidence that this product is lingering in our tissues in higher concentrations, and that it has health implications. Food tins, beverage tins, and other vessels meant to store comestibles and potable liquids are universally lined with a plastic liner that contains BPA. I am not insisting that BPA is in any way involved in our modelling supplies, but,…it’s an example of why the warning is there. It might be something in the paints, the lubes… Crandell
We are confronted with more and more hazardous materials in our environment, yet we get older and older [:-^]
How about a warning on train sets, like the following?
Warning! Playing with trains is highly contagious and may result in a life-long addiction!
It’s a lot clearer now than it was way back when thanks to increasingly strict emissions controls starting in the 60’s. There are days you can see Mt. Baldy quite clearly from Santa Ana. Couldn’t do that way back then at any time. Shoot, you couldn’t see the mountain from the foot of it back when I was a teen. I lived in SoCal from the early 50’s until going into the Air Force in '65. Still live in Cal, but in Monterey, one of the most beautiful areas on the coast.
BTW, that cleaner air comes despite the fact that CA’s population (both people and especially vehicles) has grown tremendously since 1950 (about 350% where people are concerned).
You ought to come back for a visit now that things are visible. The San Gabriel Mountains are especially beautiful with a fresh coat of snow (and one that usually ends at about the 5000 foot level).
If nothing else, there’s some bodacious railfanning to be had. Chasing (lots of) trains from Barstow to Needles (some of it on old Rte 66) is highly recommended. Just make sure your tank is full and you have ample water, especially in summer. Use sunscreen and wear a hat. Going the other way, you can chase trains all the way from Needles to Bakersfield. Tehachapi Loop is fully visible from CA 58. Get off at the Keene exit and backtrack up to the loop on the old road. Then you can drive back to Barstow and follow the BNSF and UP over Cajon.
I wouldn’t recommend driving a SoCal freeway for amateurs (at least not during rush hours) even though it’s less of a threat to life and limb than Atlanta or Boston. Out here, we actually signal our intentions before executing a maneuver.
Oh yeah, no trip out here woul
With that in mind; Should I comment on…
The Diesel plume I inhaled, before I floored my caughy [cammed] V8 to pass that smoky diesel truck.
Welding & machining fumes, I so love to scent. (Umm Sweet burnt steel!!!)
One $3 Hornady round fired form a 500 S&W Mag [Lead Core].
Amount of thinner I out in my paint, while airbrushing.
The Iso - Methely - Ackel - Lacqeline, shiznit I use everyday…
Fresh & moto tool ground smoky CA fumes!
Modelers perfume, I reckon…
Selector,
good point, I always thought it was the chemical ‘lubricants’ that were enlisted to provide the end result, as I saw these on much of my brass/bronze wire/rod, all peweter casts, & brass cast parts. I probably over simplified that into a lubricant & release agent form of thought, thinking of where a chemical would be introduced. As a hobby machinest, I use cutting oils, but they have the same warnings, as well.
Just my thoughts,