Paints, Solvents & Adhesives

Paints, Solvents & Adhesives

The State of California regulates the chemical toluene because it has been shown to cause birth defects and other reproductive harm.  Toluene is commonly used in the manufacturing of solvents, paints, paint thinners, silicone sealants, many chemical reactants, rubber, printing ink, adhesives (glues), lacquers, leather tanners, and disinfectants. 

In 1993, a public interest group represented by the founder of The Chanler Group investigated and commenced a ground-breaking enforcement action against companies such as Sherwin-Williams, Ace Hardware, DEP and Testor and retailers including Kmart, Home Depot, and Grand Auto, that sold spray paints and adhesives containing the toxic solvent toluene.  The group alleged that these companies were violating Proposition 65 by failing to provide warnings to California consumers that millions of units of these products contained excessive levels of toluene. 

In this unprecedented settlement reached with Sherwin-Williams and thirty-seven other companies, the companies agreed to significantly reformulate their products, including developing water-based spray paints. They also agreed to implement a warning program in compliance with Proposition 65.

Additionally, the research and investigation materials developed by the public interest group were utilized by the California Attorney General to file an enforcement action against Sherwin-Williams.  As a result, Sherwin-Williams and three other companies agreed to settlement terms requiring Proposition 65 warnings for products that contained a maximum of 13,000 micrograms of toluene, which amounts to less than 1% toluene content in a typical 16-ounce can of spray paint. 

Today, The Chanler Group's clients continue their efforts to protect the health and safety of all California consumers against similar exposures by investigating products for the presence of toluene and other chemicals. 

To review legal agreements which The Chanler Group's clients have reached with companies that sell spray paints, solvents and adhesives, please see the cases below.

firm casework - enforcement

December 13, 1996
Consent Judgment
Whistleblower and private Proposition 65 enforcer, As You Sow, and manufacturer of chemical and paper products, International Paper Company, Inc., entered into a settlement resolving the private enforcement action brought by AYS for alleged violations of California's Proposition 65. The settlement covers two dozen International Paper cleaning products and solvents...
December 1, 1996
Consent Judgment
The Marin County Superior Court entered a Consent Judgment according to the settlement reached between Proposition 65 private enforcer and whistleblower, As You Sow ("AYS"), and janitorial and industrial cleaning products supplier, Quest Chemical Corporation. The judgment resolves AYS's allegations that Quest sold and distributed eight janitorial/industrial...
November 25, 1996
Consent Judgment
Chemical manufacturer and distributor Mallinckrodt, Inc. and several of its subsidiaries entered into a settlement agreement with private Proposition 65 enforcer and whistleblower As You Sow on November 25, 1996. The agreement was entered by the San Francisco County Superior Court and concluded the enforcement action instituted by AYS against Mallinckrodt after no public...
October 30, 1996
Consent Judgment
The Marin County Superior Court entered a Judgment according to the October 30, 1996, settlement between Proposition 65 private enforcer and whistleblower As You Sow and defendant National Sanitary Supply Company. The settlement and judgment resolved the private enforcement action commenced by AYS. On November 8, 1995, AYS issued a 60-day Notice of Violation of...
October 16, 1996
Consent Judgment
The October 9, 1996, settlement reached between Proposition 65 private enforcer and whistleblower As You Sow, and manufacturer of polymer resins and other chemicals Ciba-Geigy Polymers Division ("Ciba"), was entered as a judgment by the San Francisco Superior Court on October 16, 1996, (Case No. CGC-95-972965). The judgment resolved the private enforcement...
September 13, 1996
Consent Judgment
On September 13, 1996, the San Francisco Superior Court entered the settlement reached between whistleblower and Proposition 65 private enforcer, As You Sow ("AYS"), and manufacturer and distributor of solvent chemicals, Rycoline Products, Inc. and Rogersol, Inc. The judgment and settlement resolve AYS's allegations of Proposition 65 violations, as detailed...
August 5, 1996
Toluene
Consent Judgment
In a Stipulated Judgment entered by the San Francisco County Superior Court on August 5, 1996, whistleblower and Proposition 65 private enforcer, As You Sow, resolved its allegations against Huntington Laboratories, a manufacturer of chemical solvents used for cleaning and paint removal. AYS alleged that Huntington violated Proposition 65 when it failed to warn consumers...
August 2, 1996
Consent Judgment
On August 2, 1996, the San Francisco Superior Court entered a Stipulated Judgment regarding the allegations raised by Proposition 65 private enforcer and whistleblower, As You Sow, against a manufacturer and distributor of bulk chemicals (drums and railcar containers) in California, Holchem, Inc. (Case No. CGC-96-973714). The settlement and subsequent judgment resolved...