99% Invisible
WARNING: This Podcast Contains Chemicals Known to the State of California to Cause Cancer or Other Reproductive Harm
Mar 5, 2024
Vivian Leigh, a producer with a knack for storytelling, teams up with David Rowe, a senior lawyer focused on environmental issues, to dive deep into California's Proposition 65. They tackle the confusing reality behind the warning labels found on everyday products, asking whether these ubiquitous alerts genuinely inform or cause unnecessary panic. Listeners will be entertained by humorous anecdotes from celebrity advocates and the challenges faced by small businesses under the regulation, all while exploring the cultural implications of normalizing such warnings.
42:39
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Quick takeaways
- Proposition 65 aims to encourage companies to reformulate products to avoid cancer-causing chemical warnings.
- Warning labels under Proposition 65 have led to alarm fatigue and excessive lawsuits on products in California.
Deep dives
The Creation of Proposition 65: Tackling Environmental Issues in California
In the mid-80s, environmental lawyer David Rowe wrote Proposition 65 in response to the hazardous levels of toxic chemicals in California. With a significant environmental focus, the law required clear warnings on products containing cancer-causing chemicals. The aim was not punitive but to encourage companies to reformulate their products to avoid the warning labels.
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