Held Files Complaint Against Barron’s Educational Alleging DEHP in Book Covers

Dr. Anthony Held has filed a complaint against Barron’s Educational Series in order to enforce the California public’s right to know of health hazards caused by exposure to di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) allegedly found in vinyl/PVC book covers sold by Barron’s.  DEHP is a chemical known to the State of California to cause birth defects and/or other reproductive harm, and under Proposition 65 law, companies offering products for sale that contain DEHP must provide consumers with a health hazard warning.

In addition to civil penalties, Held seeks an injunction to prevent Barron’s from manufacturing, distributing, or selling the products in California without a Proposition 65 warning.

The Chanler Group represents citizen enforcers who, acting in the public interest, commence actions against businesses offering products for sale in California that contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm without first providing the health hazard warning required by Proposition 65. Citizen enforcers bringing Proposition 65 actions in the public interest may obtain a Court Judgment imposing civil penalties, an injunction requiring reformulation of products, and/or provision of health hazard warnings. The Chanler Group has represented citizen enforcers of Proposition 65 for more than twenty years.