BILL NUMBER: S3014

SPONSOR: GAUGHRAN
 
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