Over the years, As You Sow has initiated a variety of successful enforcement actions that will directly protect human health and the environment.

• Dental Amalgam
  
• Air Emissions
  
• Diesel Exhaust
  
• Lead Wool
  
• Dive Weights
  
• Cosmetics
  
• Spray Paints and Adhesives
  
• Automotive Products
  
• Nail Care Products
  
• Portable Classrooms
  

Dental Amalgam

Dental amalgam is a material used in a variety of dental restorations including most fillings, crowns and bridges. It is the end result of mixing approximately equal parts of elemental liquid mercury (43-54%) and an alloy powder (57-46%) composed of silver, tin, copper and sometimes smaller amounts of zinc, palladium, or indium

Since millions of dental patients in California were being regularly exposed to levels of mercury requiring a warning under Proposition 65, As You Sow initiated actions in 2001 against large dental offices around the state over the use and implementation of dental amalgam restorations.

In 2003, the California Dental Association (CDA) negotiated an agreement with As You Sow on behalf of its members and the dental health community. The CDA agreed to provide a warning package to licensed practitioners, laboratories and educational organizations in the dental field. Such entities would be extended an opportunity to join the agreement whereby they would agree to post an agreed upon warning in waiting rooms or other locations likely to be seen by dental patients prior to treatment. Dentists, dental laboratories and dental educational organizations throughout California have joined the settlement and are now providing As You Sow-drafted warnings to patients in advance of treatment.

Both the Center for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since have published information regarding mercury and the use of dental amalgam.

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Air Emissions

Perchloroethylene is often used in dry cleaning operations and for degreasing metals in industrial or manufacturing settings. As You Sow has reached agreements with many companies throughout California to install equipment that will not use or emit perchloroethylene. Others have consented to install pollution control equipment such as vapor degreasers, which will reduce or eliminate the need to warn for the emission of perchloroethylene. These businesses are often located near heavily populated low-income and/or minority communities and typically include large dry cleaning facilities, motion picture film laboratories, metal finishing, parts machining and furniture manufacturing plants. As applicable, these agreements have also addressed chromium and methylene chloride emissions.

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Diesel Exhaust

Several large corporations with large diesel-powered truck fleets agreed to begin implementation of conversion programs whereby substantial percentages of their fleets are being changed over to non-polluting vehicles such as electric or propane-powered delivery and heavy-duty trucks.

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Lead Wool

Lead wool is a steel-wool-like product used in cold caulking joints in household and many other commercial plumbing settings. As this product is made of strands of lead, As You Sow was concerned that any consumer handling this material was risking a dermal exposure as well as the possibility of ingesting or inhaling lead. After issuing notices, As You Sow reached agreements with lead wool manufacturers to immediately provide warnings and ultimately phase out sales of this dangerous product in California entirely.

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Dive Weights

As a result of proceedings initiated by As You Sow, several manufacturers and retailers of scuba diving gear agreed to stop selling non-coated solid lead diving weights, and to substitute safer weights sealed with rubber, eliminating the likelihood of exposure to lead by users, as well as reducing the environmental threat to coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.

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Cosmetics

In the early and mid-1990s As You Sow’s Environmental Enforcement program pushed cosmetics companies to eliminate known carcinogens Toluene and Formaldehyde from their nail care products. This led to worldwide reformulation commitments by numerous companies including Revlon, L'Oreal, Maybelline, Orly, Sally Hansen, Lancome, Elizabeth Arden, and some 40 others. That's why in the late 90's you started seeing full-page Revlon ads in Madamoiselle and Redbook Magazines saying "Revlon is proud to announce that our nail care products are totally toluene and formaldehyde-free!”

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Spray Paints and Adhesives

During As You Sow's early years, the organization brought hundreds of manufacturers of consumer spray paints and adhesives into compliance with Proposition 65. Most companies agreed to reformulate their products to remove harmful chemicals such as toluene or to provide warnings to consumers on cans, bottles, packaging or other points of purchase.

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Portable Classrooms As You Sow initiated an enforcement actions against many national manufacturers, lessors and distributors of portable classrooms regarding indoor air emissions of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds from construction materials that required a warning under Proposition 65. In 2001, over a dozen national companies reached an agreement with As You Sow that included commitments to begin using alternative building materials that will result in exposure to fewer toxic substances including those sometimes contained in engineered wood products, adhesives, caulks, tapes, mastics and glues. The manufacturers also agreed to provide ventilation in the sub-roof areas on all products ordered for manufacture after July 1, 2001, and to issue advisories regarding the availability of alternative materials and the advisability of airing out the buildings upon installation and prior to occupancy. The settlement ensures that California's modular buildings are now constructed with more environmentally friendly building materials and will reduce the use of and possible exposures to formaldehyde and other toxic compounds.

Subsequently, the California Air Resources Board and Department of Health Services conducted a comprehensive study of portable classrooms throughout California. The study examined not only volatile organic compounds or Proposition 65 chemicals but also the overall environmental health conditions including issues relating to mold contamination, adequate ventilation, temperature control and application of pesticides. A final report entitled "Environmental Health Conditions in California's Portable Classrooms" was provided to the California State Legislature in November 2004.

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Nail Care Products

From approximately 1993 through 1999, As You Sow worked to bring national manufacturers of popular nail care products into compliance with Proposition 65. The companies typically agreed to completely remove toluene, a chemical known to cause birth defects, and formaldehyde, a known cancer-causing agent, from their entire product lines.

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Automotive Products

As You Sow's initial efforts to enforce Proposition 65 resulted in bringing manufacturers into compliance for various automotive products including degreasers, lubricants, coatings, finishes, enamels, rust inhibitors, gasket removes, sealants, tire black/tire shine, and cleaners for parts, carburetors, chokes and brakes. Most companies agree to reformulate their products to remove harmful chemicals such as toluene or to provide warnings to consumers on cans, bottles, packaging or other points of purchase.

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