Proposition 65 requires businesses to provide a warning in publicly-accessible locations where Prop 65 listed chemicals may be present. Common chemicals found on the California Prop 65 list include, but are not limited to:
- Acetaldehyde and methanol in cleaning products
- Acrylamide in french fries, potato chips, roasted nuts and coffee, breakfast cereals, bread crust and toast
- Alcoholic beverages such as spirits, beer, coolers and wine
- Diesel engine exhaust from diesel engines
- Formaldehyde and chlorinated tris in furniture and carpets
- Mercury in fish and seafood
- Vinyl chloride in window blinds and coverings
You may notice new Prop 65 warnings at restaurants (food, beverages, and alcohol), on consumer products, at businesses, or places such as parking garages and gas pumps.
To comply with the updated Proposition 65 warning requirements, Stanford University posts warnings at public campus and building entrances. Here are examples of signs you may see:
| Campus Entry Point Warning |  WARNING:
Entering this area can expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm, including diesel engine exhaust and carbon monoxide, from diesel engines. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. |
| Building Sign Warning | WARNING:
Entering this area can expose you to chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm, including lead and lead compounds, from brass fixtures. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov. |
| Food Facilities | WARNING: Certain foods and beverages sold or served here can expose you to chemicals including acrylamide in many fried or baked foods, and mercury in fish, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/restaurant. |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do Stanford Buildings have new Proposition 65 signs on entrance doors?
Businesses in California are required to warn the public if a chemical on the Prop 65 list may be present in the facility or in the consumer product they sell per 27 CCR 25102.
Did something change?
Yes, Prop 65 regulations were updated to specify Prop 65 sign language in more detail and to further specify required signage locations.
Was something discovered in the buildings?
No. Nothing about our buildings changed, nor was anything newly discovered. Stanford is posting the new warning signs to comply with the updated Prop 65 regulations.
Why do the signs say there are lead and lead compounds in buildings at Stanford?
The signage is providing a warning that lead is a component of brass. Brass fixtures are typically found in modern plumbing systems and/or brass objects such as pulls, knobs, brackets and hardware.
For more information on regulations on lead in plumbing, see the fact sheet on Requirements for Low Lead Plumbing Products in California by the Department of Toxic Substance Control. Stanford follows state requirements for “lead free” plumbing.
Who can I contact if I have additional questions?
For more information about Prop 65, you may go to https://www.p65warnings.ca.gov/
Or contact EH&S at (650) 723-0448.
