First you notice the Prop 65 warning on a TV, then on your smartphone. Suddenly, everything you touch seems to come with a cautionary tale. Passed in 1986, California’s Proposition 65 is a right-to-know law that requires businesses to warn consumers about potential exposure to chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. It covers a broad range of products, from food and cosmetics to electronics and household goods. While it’s meant to inform, not scare, the ubiquity of these warnings can be overwhelming. California is making efforts to make warnings more useful, but for now, they’re part of the daily landscape.

Megan Schwarzman, an environmental health scientist, explains that the aim is for consumers to make informed decisions. However, Tina Cox, section chief of the OEHHA’s Proposition 65 Implementation Program, notes that over-warning can make it hard for consumers to identify real risks. This echoes the concern that consumers are often left to navigate a confusing array of warnings, many of which might not be necessary.

Air pollution scientist Shahir Fouad Masri reminds us that we’re never completely free of exposure, even if we avoid Prop 65 warnings. The question for consumers is not whether to avoid products with warnings, but how to balance informed decision-making with the reality of our daily lives.

Prop 65 is both a reflection of public health concerns and a challenge to businesses to reformulate products. As the law turns 40, it continues to evolve, with new requirements and ongoing debates over the effectiveness of its warnings. Whether the warnings are useful or overkill, they’re here to stay, and understanding them is key to navigating the modern consumer landscape.