NYS Coalition to Governor Hochul: Treat NY’s Women to Better Health by Ending the Trick of Toxic Chemicals Haunting Period Products
NYS Legislature Voted Overwhelmingly to End the Horror of PFAS
“Forever Chemicals” and Carcinogens Lurking in Products to Aid Health
For more information, contact: Jasmine Phillip, jasmine@cleanhealthyny.org, 518-354-3263 ; Chris Dobbs chris.dobbs@weact.org, 718-679-8542
(October 31, 2025, New York, NY) This Halloween, the members of the JustGreen Partnership and legislative champions called on Governor Hochul to end a real life nightmare in New York State by signing the Ban PFAS and Toxic Chemicals in Period Products (S.1548, Fernandez / A.1502, Rosenthal) into law. Once signed, New York will join California, Maine, and Vermont in banning PFAS in menstrual products. It will lead the nation in banning other toxic chemicals that can cause or contribute to frightening ailments like infertility, cancer and other health harms. The bill passed both houses of the NYS Legislature by March 2025 with overwhelming bipartisan support.
The new measure extends New York’s leadership on menstrual health: In 2019, the state was the first to require labeling period product ingredients on-package. Companies responded by adding the label nationally. Governor Hochul can not only protect millions of New Yorkers by removing these terrifying toxic chemicals from period products. She can help shift the market for the rest of Americans, as part of a group of states with aligned laws that protect people from toxic chemicals.
“No one should ever have to question whether the products they use for their health and hygiene are safe for their bodies. This legislation is about protecting that most basic trust and ensuring that what we bring to market reflects care, science, and respect for human dignity,” said Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Sponsor of Bill 1548. “By signing this bill, Governor Hochul can reaffirm New York’s role as a leader in women’s health and environmental justice, and extend that protection to generations to come.”
"Earlier this year, I proudly passed legislation in the Assembly to rid menstrual products sold in New York State of toxic substances. Now, it is up to Governor Hochul to sign this bill into law," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, Sponsor of Bill A.1502 (D/WF - Manhattan). "If more women knew that toxins were hidden in their menstrual products, they would be terrified. For years, I have passed laws ensuring that New York State is a leader in the fight for menstrual equity, but our work is not done until every person has access to safe products. Scary substances like PFAS, lead, arsenic and formaldehyde have all been found in menstrual products, and I am proud to join Clean+Healthy and We ACT for Environmental Justice in demanding that this bill be signed without further delay."
"We have a responsibility to eradicate toxic substances and forever chemicals not just from our air, water, soil, food and health products--but from existing at all on our planet,” State Senator Cordell Cleare, Co-Sponsor of Senate Bill 1548 stated. “I proudly support this bill because it will protect millions of New Yorkers from exposure to toxic chemicals in the course of simply attending to their own physical health and well-being during menstruation. I urge the Governor to sign and implement the bill immediately."
The New York City Council has a similar bill (Int 0867-2024) that prohibits the sale of period products that contain intentionally added harmful ingredients; showing growing concern over the chemicals menstruators are exposed to from their period products and the need for legislative action to keep them protected.
"I have done the work on the city-level to ban the sale of menstrual products with harmful chemicals and toxins hidden behind catch-all fragrance labels, but protecting the health of those who menstruate cannot stop there. As we near the end of 2025, it is vital that we say 'enough' and raise the standard for safety, transparency, and accountability. We know the dangers of PFAS and other toxic chemicals, and we cannot allow our city and state to turn a blind eye.” Said Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “New York now has the opportunity to reaffirm its leadership in reproductive and environmental health by aligning city and state action. I commend my state partners, Senator Fernandez and Assembly Member Rosenthal for their diligent work on this critical legislation and I urge Governor Hochul to stand on the right side of this issue and sign S.1548 / A.1502 into law to protect the health and dignity of the 4.75 million New Yorkers who menstruate."
The bone chilling fact is that unlike other skin surfaces, the area period products come in contact with is much more absorbent of substances. Unfortunately, this creates an easy way for PFAS, lead, and other toxic chemicals to enter the bloodstream causing and contributing to serious health impacts
“Finding safe period products shouldn’t feel like a nightmare each month. New York consumers should be able to walk into any store and find non toxic period products on every shelf, yet manufacturers have been allowed to intentionally use harmful chemicals in their products,” said Sophia Longsworth, Toxics Policy Director of Clean+Healthy and Co-leader of JustGreen Partnership. “Research has shown us what the chemicals currently allowed in many period products do to our bodies and we know the negative long-term effects to our health. At a time where the federal government is stripping away protections for women, it is imperative that New Yorkers are shielded from those who choose to poison us. We call on Governor Hochul to sign the bill today.”
Healthcare professionals have continued to voice their concerns on this issue, making the sinister dangers of this issue being left unattended more apparent.
"Healthcare professionals and concerned community members continue to have few options when it comes to PFAS: there is no treatment, and there is no way to remove it from the body after it's there. We are all struggling with how to reduce our daily exposures to these insidious and toxic chemicals." Said Charles E. Moon III, MD, FAAP, Environmental Health & Climate Change Policy Coordinator for the New York State American Academy of Pediatrics. " Women shouldn't have to read ingredient labels or become an internet sleuth for PFAS-free products but rather be confident that all products they have to choose from are healthy for their use. That's why we are calling on Governor Hochul to sign this commonsense bill to ban PFAS in Menstrual and Feminine Hygiene Products that girls and women use throughout their lives. This is an important step forward in reducing PFAS exposures in our communities."
Public health issues like this bring to light the many environmental justice issues we as a society still need to address. Communities of color already disproportionately face toxic chemicals in their living environments and deserve champions who are on their side.
“Women – particularly women of color – are disproportionately exposed to toxic chemicals in their lived environment, and being exposed to these dangerous chemicals via menstrual products – which are often in direct contact with some of the most sensitive and absorbent parts of our body – puts their health in even greater jeopardy,” explained Briana Carbajal, State Legislative Manager at WE ACT for Environmental Justice. “That is why both chambers of the New York State legislature unanimously passed the Menstrual Products Act. We know New York State Governor Kathy Hochul supports women’s health, which is why we urge her to sign this legislation into law.”
The group urged Governor Hochul, who has a long track record of supporting women’s reproductive rights, to sign the bill immediately.
“People who menstruate need urgent protection from companies using toxic chemicals as ingredients in period products that are detrimental to consumers’ lives,” shares Christina Thompson, Executive Director of the Breast Cancer Coalition. “In these turbulent times, more than ever we need states like New York to lead the way, not only to safeguard our residents, but also to drive the national marketplace.”
“Spooky chemicals lurking in our menstrual products can cause all kinds of health nightmares,” said Debra Erenberg, Co-Executive Director of Weaving Voices for Health & Justice. “We urge Governor Hochul to sign the Ban PFAS and Toxic Chemicals in Period Products Act (S.1548, Fernandez / A.1502, Rosenthal) and treat New Yorkers to safe and healthy menstrual products.”
The growing demand for safer period products is only increasing. With the obvious health risks and the growing consumer demand, this is the only right choice for New York to take.
“The business community strongly urges Governor Hochul to sign this common sense legislation into law. Our businesses and economy depend on a healthy citizenry, which is threatened by PFAS poisoning, especially in products that directly contact our skin,” said Bob Rossi, Executive Director of the New York Sustainable Business Council (NYSBC). “This bill serves to reduce the ways PFAS and other toxic chemicals enter our bodies and the environment. We must push forward, support innovation, and meet the growing consumer demand for safer products—some even produced here in New York.”
Environmental organizations have been sounding the alarm on the continued use of toxic chemicals, like in period products; not only for the consumer, but the inevitable introduction of harmful chemicals into our environment from those products.
"Currently, the burden of ensuring menstrual product safety falls unfairly on consumers, who are left to navigate the potential health risks without adequate information. Manufacturers are evading accountability while exposing millions of New Yorkers to dangerous PFAS — and this is absolutely unacceptable," said Kate Donovan, Director of Northeast Environmental Health at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Governor Hochul must act now to ban PFAS and other dangerous chemicals in menstrual products to ensure that no one puts harmful substances in or near the most sensitive parts of their bodies."
"New Yorkers and our communities are inundated by exposure to toxic 'forever chemicals' (like PFAS) each and every day, and in ways that we don't even realize," said Caitlin Ferrante, Conservation Program Manager, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. "Ridding our environment of these ubiquitous toxins will improve public health and help to reduce the costs of healthcare and expensive filtration of drinking water. This policy will help limit yet another pathway of PFAS and other toxic chemicals exposure, in products used by more than half of the population, in the most intimate areas of their bodies. The Sierra Club strongly urges Governor Hochul to sign A.1502/S.1548 into law, as soon as possible, as we work to keep toxics out of our air, water, and bodies."
“This Halloween let’s treat women to safer menstrual products and get rid of scary toxins. Signing the Safe Menstrual Products Act into law is a period-defining opportunity for women’s health and safety,” said Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director, Citizens Campaign for the Environment. “Women should not be unnecessarily exposed to PFAS chemicals, formaldehyde, parabens and other toxics when they use these products. Signing this bill into law creates a future in which menstrual and feminine hygiene products are as safe as they are necessary. CCE urges Governor Hochul to sign this common-sense public health protection measure into law.”
PFAS are known to contribute to a range of health risks related to reproductive, fertility, and immune function, and so it is shocking – and rightfully so – to learn that these toxins are still used in menstrual products,” said Alisha Deen-Steindler, Legislative Advocate for the New York League of Conservation Voters. Fortunately the State Senate and Assembly tackled this issue with straightforward and commonsense legislation and now we urge Governor Hochul to sign S. 1548/ A.1502 and end this women's health hazard once and for all.
The JustGreen Partnership asks constituents to contact Governor Hochul’s office to let her know this bill is important and must be signed immediately.
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The JustGreen Partnership is a 19 year old collaboration of environmental justice, environmental health, environmental health affected, children’s, and business organizations working for environmental health and justice for New York’s people and communities. Learn more here.
