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Information About California’s Prop 65 Warnings

Many people are either unfamiliar with California Prop 65 warnings or do not understand what information they are intended to communicate. So, with full transparency, we want to share the following information with our customers and installers. The use of Prop 65 warnings for tile is not new or unique to Zia Tile and spans many consumer product categories including, but not limited to dishware, cabinet and door hardware, faucets, cosmetics, baby food and wine.

Below, we will cover the following topics:

  • What is California’s Proposition 65 (“Prop 65”)?

  • Potential Exposure to Trace Amounts of Prop 65 Listed Substances During Installation of Certain Tiles

  • Recommended Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

What is California’s Prop 65?

California’s “Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986,” commonly known as Proposition 65 or Prop 65, is a series of regulations applicable only to products sold to California consumers. The Act requires a specific warning if any products contain even one of 900+ noted substances identified by the state of California as potentially causing cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm if a consumer could be exposed to concentrations of such substances above very low threshold levels. No other state has such a labeling regulation.

Clients should know that a Prop 65 warning does not mean a product is in violation of any product safety standards or requirements. In fact, the presence of a Prop 65 warning is often necessary even though only trace amounts of a listed substance are present and regular, normal use of a product presents no health risk. Many of the listed substances, including both human-derived chemicals and those naturally present in common food, drinks, and environments, have been used in everyday products for many years without any documented physical harm.

Proposition 65 is a consumer “right to know” law. It does not prohibit the sale of products containing these substances; rather, it requires manufacturers and distributors to provide consumers with a warning so they can obtain additional information about the substances, if they choose, and make informed decisions around the product’s use.

Are Zia Tile products safe?

Yes, Zia Tile’s products are safe for their intended use. We always recommend closely following all installation safety instructions listed in the product installation guide.

Out of an abundance of caution, some Zia Tile products will be marked with the following Prop 65 warning:

⚠ WARNING: Cancer and Reproductive Harm – www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

Potential Exposure to Trace Amounts of Prop 65 Listed Substances Like Lead and Crystalline Silica During Installation of Certain Zia Tiles.

 It is important to note that an independent research study conducted by Environmental Health & Engineering, Inc. for the Tile Council of North America (TCNA), in partnership with different national and international trade organizations, found that the risk of cancer to the average professional tile installer who cuts tiles using the traditional wet saw method is 75 times below the threshold established under Prop 65. Moreover, the risk of cancer to the occasional DIY installer was virtually nonexistent. When other tile cutting methods were used, such as the score and snap method, the cancer risk was even further below the Prop 65 threshold that requires a warning.

Even though a trace amount of lead may be detected in certain Zia Tile products when unpacked and before washing, and even though trace amounts of crystalline silica can be released during select cutting and grinding of tile, Zia Tile has commissioned testing by a third party laboratory and has been assured there is no measurable health risk to customers and installers during the unpacking and installation process, particularly if recommended PPE is used.

After installation, there is no ongoing health risk whatsoever according to all third party research and laboratory testing that has been conducted on these tiles.

Zia Tile provides the following additional information:

  • To access OSHA determination, follow this link.

  • For more information on the TCNA Study, please click here.

  • To learn more about Proposition 65, click here.

Lead

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Lead naturally occurs in soil at low levels.” Lead can be present in natural clays used to make tile products, including tiles, glazes, and colorants. OEHHA has established limits for lead exposure depending whether the risk is for cancer (15 µg (micrograms)/day over a 70 year lifespan) or reproductive toxicity (0.5 µg/day over a shorter limited time span). (For context, 1 microgram is 1 millionth of a gram.) In most instances, lead exposure is evaluated via oral ingestion which simply means the transfer of lead from hand to mouth. OEHHA has endorsed an exposure methodology which looks at hand to mouth lead transfer and reduces the amount actually transferred by 50%. In other words, a trace amount of lead becomes even less significant. During installation, the use of gloves and sound hygiene practices greatly reduces any potential exposure risk.

Crystalline Silica

As a natural product made from soil and clay, tiles can contain crystalline silica, which consists of quartz, cristobalite, and/or tridymite. Because tiles are not easily crumbled or pulverized, there is no inhalation exposure to crystalline silica from uncut tile or tile that has been installed. However, when tiles are cut or shaped, usually with a wet saw or grinder, respirable size particles containing crystalline silica may be released into the air. Crystalline silica is on the Prop 65 list of substances.

Recommended Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

As the above scientific studies indicates, cutting tile does not pose significant risk to exposure to any of the substances listed under Prop 65, particularly when wet-cutting tile with a stationary masonry saw. Nonetheless, Zia Tile recommends that installers wear gloves, a face covering (e.g., dust mask), and eye protection when unpacking, cutting and installing Zia Tile products. If extensive cutting is required during installation, Zia Tiles recommends this work be done outside or in a well-ventilated area. Finally, always be sure to wash your hands well with soap and water after working with tiles and before eating.