What's happening
This bill prohibits the sale of household cleaning products in New York that contain 1,4-dioxane except for trace amounts authorized by regulation.
Why it matters
Reduces exposure to a probable carcinogen. 1,4-dioxane is considered a likely human carcinogen by the EPA; restricting its presence in household cleaning products could lower health risks for families, especially children and those with chemical sensitivities.
Encourages reformulation and safer alternatives. Manufacturers will need to modify product formulas to comply, potentially spurring innovation in safer, less toxic cleaning products available to New York consumers.
Sets a precedent for chemical regulation. By specifically regulating 1,4-dioxane in household products, New York could influence other states or federal agencies to follow suit, raising industry standards nationwide.
Empowers regulatory oversight. The bill gives the commissioner and Department of Health authority to define allowable trace concentrations, allowing for expert-driven, science-based limits that can adapt as new health data emerges.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Toxic Cleaning Chemicals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.2049
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.2220
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Toxic Cleaning Chemicals
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6603
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting household cleansing products that contain 1, 4-dioxane
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 35-0105 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. No household cleansing product shall be distributed, sold, offered or exposed for sale in this state which contains 1, 4-dioxane other than such trace concentrations as may be authorized by the commissioner, in consultation with the department of health, by regulations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect April 1, 2019.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13006-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting household cleansing products that contain 1, 4-dioxane
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to improve water quality and public health by eliminating the use of 1, 4-dioxane in household cleaning products.
Summary of provisions
Section one amends § 35-0105 of the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new subdivision 4 to prohibit the distribution, selling, offering and exposure of household cleaning products that contain more than trace concentrations of 1, 4- dioxane.
Section two provides an effective date of April 1, 2019.
Justification
The chemical 1,4-dioxane has been designated as a likely carcinogen by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The chemical is not added to products intentionally, but is instead the product of a process called ethoxylation, which is used to reduce the risk of skin irritation in consumer products. The chemical can be removed from products through processes including vacuum stripping but often manufacturers are unwilling to incur the added expense. Laundry detergents often have the highest chemical concentrations. This is problematic because 1,4-dioxane has become an increasingly common water contaminant, especially on Long Island. According to a February 24th Newsday article, test results "showed that 71 percent of water suppliers tested on Long Island had concentrations of 1,4-dioxane that pose a cancer risk after prolonged exposure. Nationwide, 7 percent of water suppliers detected similar cancer risk concentrations." This bill would limit the amount of 1,4-dioxane that could be contained in cleaning products.
Legislative history
New Bill
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
April 1, 2019
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.