"Sacramento Judge Tentatively Rules Against Bid To List Styrene as Carcinogenic"

"A Sacramento judge sided with the styrene industry and against state environmental officials on Wednesday in ruling that the chemical doesn't have to be listed under Proposition 65 as a cause of cancer.

Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne W.L. Chang said the listing would have had a 'devastating effect' on a $28 billion industry that uses the product widely in food packaging, as well as in thousands of plastic items ranging from bicycle helmets to synthetic marble.

In her tentative ruling, Chang specifically cited styrenic plastics as being crucial to the transportation and sale of strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. Those three industries are worth more than $1.6 billion to California growers, the judge said, ruling in a case filed by the Arlington, Va., based Styrene Information and Research Center."

Andy Furillo reports for the Sacramento Bee August 13, 2009.