What's happening
This bill prohibits the sale of household cleaning products containing 1,4-dioxane in New York, except for trace amounts allowed by regulation.
Why it matters
Addresses health concerns. 1,4-dioxane is a probable human carcinogen linked to cancer and other health risks; this bill aims to reduce New Yorkers’ exposure through everyday cleaning products.
Consumer product safety. By restricting 1,4-dioxane in household cleaners, the bill could push manufacturers to reformulate products, potentially making the market safer for consumers.
Environmental protection. 1,4-dioxane is persistent in water and hard to remove at water treatment plants. Limiting its use at the source helps protect drinking water and the broader environment.
Regulatory flexibility. The bill allows trace amounts as determined by state regulators, giving flexibility for implementation while still aiming to minimize risks.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Toxic Cleaning Chemicals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3014
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 31, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GAUGHRAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
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, 2021.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09312-01-9
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 S 35-0105 of the Environmental Conservation Law by adding a new subdivision 4 to prohibit the distribution, selling, offer- ing 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 unwill- ing to incur the added expense. Laundry detergents often have the high- est 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, 2021
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.