The MADL is set to be one one-thousandth of the exposure level which would have an observable effect. I see it as the absolutely positively no worries threshold. To be sure it's going to harm you, you have to have 1,000 times as much as the MADL.circular wrote:If the MADL marks the highest without an observable effect
Here's the definition from the As You Sow FAQ:
The "requirements of Proposition 65" is a warning on the product package - if you're so far below a meaningful level of the toxin that you are even below the incredibly cautious MADL threshold, you don't have to warn.OEHHA has set a maximum allowable daily exposure level (MADL) for lead and cadmium in consumer products. The MADL for a given chemical is otherwise referred to as a “safe harbor level.” The MADL is a level at which a chemical would have no observable effect, even if an individual were exposed to 1,000 times that level. The MADL for lead is set at 0.5 µg/day for lead and cadmium at 4.1 µg/day for cadmium. Exposures levels below established safe harbor levels are exempt from the requirements of Proposition 65.
So for lead, we can infer from the 0.5 ug/day MADL that 500 ug/day would have an observable effect. The highest measurement for Endangered Species ND88 per serving (1 oz) was 3.4 ug in 2014. That's seven times the MADL, but it's still only 1/147th of the level that definitely causes harm. So I take my chances.
Thanks for sharing information about the Montezuma product - I'll keep my eyes peeled for it.