Under Proposition 65, which California voters approved in 1986, the state is required to regulate chemicals that are known to cause cancer or reproductive harm and to force manufacturers to label their products or otherwise warn consumers.

Proposition 65 regulates substances listed by California as causing cancer or birth defects or other reproductive harm in two ways.

The wording can be changed as necessary, so long as it communicates that the chemical in question is known to the state to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This product contains one or more chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

The main elements are these: * All pesticides and herbicides known to cause cancer or reproductive harm would have to be phased out by 1996.

However excessive selenium can cause reproductive harm and is highly toxic.

A 3x5 inch tattoo may contain from 1 to 23 micrograms of lead; lead exposure has been linked to birth defects, cancer, and other reproductive harm.

It also requires the Government to weigh the risk of breast cancer and reproductive harm in women.

That law, Proposition 65, requires that products containing chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm shall carry warnings.

The panel, although concerned over the growing scientific research showing BPA's reproductive harm in animals, found that there was insufficient data of the effects in humans.