New York State will ban consumer products that contain a dangerous chemical that has made its way into Long Island water systems.
1,4-dioxane is found in household cleaning, cosmetics and personal care products that are often flushed into the groundwater.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found the nation’s highest levels of 1,4-dioxane on Long Island.
Advocates like Adrienne Esposito with Citizens Campaign for the Environment pushed state lawmakers for change.
“The goal here is to take that toxic chemical, which is listed as a likely carcinogen by the EPA, out of the products that we use so that it is not going down the drain and into our groundwater, which is our drinking water source.”
State lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, like Assemblyman Andrew Garbarino, spoke on the floor to credit Esposito’s advocacy. Garbarino represents the Patchogue-Bayport area where some of the most excessive levels of the chemical were found.
“It is something that all of us from Long Island have been wanting to get done for quite some time. I also have to thank a constituent of mine, Andrienne Esposito from the Citizens Campaign for the Environment.”
The New York State Legislature passed the legislation that prohibits 1,4-dioxane with near unanimous, bipartisan support.
