LEV-CO’S PRODUCT AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S PROPOSITION 65

Lev-co values consumer safety and is taking the new State of California Proposition 65 cancer and reproductive harm warning regulations very seriously. The State of California has updated its Proposition 65 regulations, effective in August 2018. Following the new harbour warning regulations ensures that manufacturers, distributors, and resellers will be deemed to have provided the “clear and reasonable warning” required by Proposition 65. In many instances, this requires the warning to include identification of specific chemicals which are on California’s list for potentially causing cancer or reproductive harm. In compliance with the State of California’s Proposition 65, and to conform to the regulations, Lev-co will be applying warning labels to all applicable products regarding chemicals listed by California as known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. Below is a list and explanation of the materials which will contain the warnings.

ALUMINUM:
Lev-co has several machined and cast aluminum components. Most of the aluminum alloys used today contain some level of lead, usually less than 0.1%. Lead is on California’s cancer and reproductive harm lists. Most aluminum alloys are physiologically inert in their solid form and the lead is safely contained within, however user-generated dust and/or fumes may pose a hazard if inhaled or ingested. Heating beyond a certain temperature may also provide avenues for exposure.

BRASS:
Lev-co utilizes brass alloys in the manufacture of several swivel joints and fittings used on our products. Although Lev-co’s parts are machined from solid high quality brass alloys, there are still trace levels of lead inside the metal alloy. As mentioned above, lead is on the State of California’s cancer and reproductive harm lists.

ELECTRICAL CABLES AND COMPONENTS:
Lev-co has products which utilize electrical cables, conductors, and connectors. Most electrical cable jackets are formulated with lead (on the cancer and reproductive harm lists) inside the cable jacket for flexibility. Additionally, many circuits and connectors utilize lead as a component of solder. Even if the parts themselves are not intentionally manufactured with lead, they may be produced in a facility which produces parts with lead and cross contamination cannot be ruled out.

PVC:
PVC is a very common plastic used throughout modern society. Lev-co also uses some components manufactured from PVC. During the manufacturing of PVC there may be chemicals called DINP or DEHP used as a plasticizer. It is known that under certain circumstances small amounts of plasticizers can leach out of PVC products. DINP is on the cancer list, and DEHP is on both lists.

RUBBER:
As one would expect, hose reels can often contain rubber parts such as seals, stoppers, hoses, etc. Butadiene is a gas which is used to produce rubber products such as tires, resins, plastics, and other synthetic rubbers. Butadiene is also found in vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke. Butadiene should not be present in its gaseous form when considering the final rubber product, however it is impossible to guarantee that there is no chance of contamination or outgassing. Butadiene is on both the cancer and reproductive harm lists.

NITRILE:
Nitrile is a specific and very popular form of synthetic rubber and is vastly used by Lev-co as a majority of our internal swivel joint seals are a Nitrile compound. It is very commonly used as seal and hose material because of its good resistance to oil-based products. As stated above in the Rubber paragraph, nitrile is one of the synthetic rubbers which are manufactured with Butadiene. Butadiene should not be present in its gaseous form when considering the final rubber product, however it is impossible to guarantee that there is no chance of contamination or outgassing. Butadiene is known to cause cancer and reproductive harm.

VITON:
Viton is a DuPont trade name for a fluor elastomer, and it is another very popular seal material also used by Lev-co in swivel joints because of its superior chemical resistance. Fluor elastomers are manufactured with Tetrafluoroethylene which is on the State of California’s list as known to cause cancer. Although Tetrafluoroethylene is not detectible in the polymerized product, if the polymerized product is heated above a certain point, it is possible that some may be released.

EPDM:
EPDM is a synthetic rubber also used as a seal and hose material. It is commonly used as a gasket material for water applications. In the solid, room temperature form, EPDM is basically inert as all ingredients are tightly bound in a polymeric matrix. However, if heated, exposure to some ingredients is possible. One of the ingredients in EPDM is Carbon Black. Carbon Black is on California’s list for potentially causing cancer.

STEEL:
A majority of Lev-co products are manufactured from sheet steel. Steel is an iron alloy with several metals including Nickel and Chromium. Nickel is on the cancer list; chromium is on both lists. This warning applies to stainless steel as well.

ABS:
ABS is a common plastic used in modern society for all kinds of applications. Lev-co resells some ABS encased electronics and similar products. Styrene is a chemical component of ABS which is effectively completely consumed by the chemical reaction when fabricating ABS and no styrene monomers should remain. However, it is possible that some residual non-reacted styrene is present from the factory or process. Styrene is on the cancer list.

SBR:
Styrene-butadiene rubber is a common rubber compound which is formulated with Styrene. Lev-co utilizes SBR rubber on a few bumper stop parts. Styrene is a chemical component of SBR which is effectively completely consumed by the chemical reaction when fabricating SBR and no styrene monomers should remain. However, it is possible that some residual non-reacted styrene is present from the factory or process. As mentioned above, styrene is on the cancer list.