Urgent Action Needed to Protect New Yorkers from Toxic Chemicals including PFAS “Forever Chemicals,” and Advance Environmental Justice
Advocates, Legislators Call for State to Pass Bills to Remove PFAS and
Other Toxic Chemicals Personal Care, Period, and Everyday Products, and
Ensure Public Engagement for Siting in Disadvantaged Communities
ALBANY, N.Y.- May 7, 2024: Today, advocates from across New York State gathered at the Capitol to urge legislators to prioritize the passage of crucial bills aimed at protecting the health and well-being of all New Yorkers. These bills address a range of pressing environmental health and justice issues, focused on banning toxic chemicals in personal care and menstrual products, banning PFAS in everyday consumer products, requiring public participation plans when siting facilities in disadvantaged communities, and packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure:
Enhanced Public Participation - S.2510A (Ramos) PASSED / A.6584A (Gallagher) helps ensure community voices are heard - it requires for project applications to provide a comprehensive plan to the DEC for public feedback on proposed facilities intended to be sited in disadvantaged communities.
Beauty Justice Act - S.4265 (Webb) / A.6969 (Glick) restricts toxic chemicals in personal care and cosmetic products, especially those that disproportionately harm Black women and femmes.
Action is also required to eliminate PFAS in products as data increasingly shows the harmful effects on our health at very low levels. These bills will protect people from PFAS when they use the product, help “turn off the tap” of PFAS flowing into our daily lives, and cut the leaching of PFAS into our drinking water. Water utilities face steep costs to filter out PFAS - it is much more cost effective to cease its use wherever possible, advocates said.
PFAS in menstrual products - S.3529A (Fernandez) PASSED / A.5990A (L Rosenthal) bans toxic chemicals in menstrual and intimate hygiene products.
Multisector PFAS Ban - S.5648C (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.3556C (Zebrowski) prohibits the sale of PFAS-containing products like house paint, textiles, ski wax, and cookware,.
PFAS in anti-fogging sprays and wipes - S. 992B (Hoylman-Sigal) / A.5363B (Gallagher) bans PFAS in anti-fogging sprays and wipes.
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act - S.4246B (Harckham) / A.5322B (Glick) requires companies selling or distributing packaging materials to work with organizations to reduce packaging and develop a recycling plan. This includes a ban on toxic chemicals that make recycling harder and threaten our health.
The JustGreen Partnership coalition is committed to advocating for legislation that prioritizes public health and environmental protection. With the support of legislators and community advocates, the coalition aims to address the urgent need for safer products, enhanced public participation, and reduce environmental toxins. These critical bills represent a significant step toward creating a healthier and more sustainable future for all New Yorkers.
“PFAS are a cancer-causing class of chemicals that are harmful to both our children and our planet. We must do everything in our power to prohibit the sale of materials containing PFAS, which have been proven to lead to a higher risk of not only cancer, but also liver and thyroid problems, hormone disruption, and decreased bone health. Let’s pass our bills to ban PFAS from specific products, as we have in the past, with our legislation targeting anti-fogging sprays and wipes (S.992A) and cosmetics (S.4265). But let’s also go a step further and pass our bill (S.5648A) that prohibits the sale of all products that contain intentionally added PFAS. It’s time to get these cancer-causing pollutants out of New York State,” said Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Chair of the Judiciary Committee.
“I am proud to join this coalition to raise awareness of the critical importance to protect New Yorkers from toxic PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’,” said Senator Lea Webb, sponsor of the Beauty Justice Act. “Studies show that BIPOC and femme-identifying women use more of these toxic products and are the target audience for the marketing tools designed to increase their use”. It is critical that we enact protections against the dangerous chemicals found in the products we use on our bodies every day, chemicals which we know can lead to devastating health impacts.”
“I am thankful for the JustGreen Partnership highlighting this slate of bills that will dramatically reduce toxics in our environment. We are all becoming more aware of the extensive exposure we have to forever chemicals. It is our responsibility and obligation to ensure that products used by New Yorkers are safe and free of harmful chemicals. I am eager to see the passage of the Beauty Justice Act to ensure personal care products are safe for New Yorkers, and my Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act, which will drastically reduce packaging waste and improve municipal recycling operations,” said Deborah J. Glick, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee.
"For too long, working class communities of color have been cut out of the processes that result in toxic and polluting projects being overwhelmingly located in their neighborhoods. People deserve a voice and a seat at the table. The Enhanced Public Participation Act will ensure more robust public engagement and oversight when major projects are sited near disadvantaged communities," said Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who sponsors the bill.
"The harmful evidence surrounding the impact of PFAS chemicals requires strong action in response. New York must take a stand to protect our residents and end the sale of products containing these harmful chemicals. This bill would phase out their use in numerous consumer and household products that currently contain them," said Assemblymember Ken Zebrowski, who sponsors A.3556C.
"For decades, PFAS chemicals have been quietly added to everyday products, but now consumers are increasingly aware of their presence and the dangerous impact they have on our health and our environment," said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF- Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. "However, many consumers are shocked to learn that PFAS and other harmful ingredients have even been added to menstrual products. People rely on these products each week for years on end, unaware of the harm it could be doing to their health. PFAS has become so widely used that it is detected in the food we eat, the water we drink and even the air we breathe. I am proud to be working with the Just Green Partnership to pass my legislation banning the use of PFAS in menstrual products this session, as well as a package of other bills to crack down on the use of these chemicals."
"New York State must take swift action on toxic chemicals in everyday products. These include PFAS "forever chemicals" and those that disproportionately threaten the health of women and people of color. They must also ensure meaningful community input in sitting decisions through Enhanced Public Participation", said Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director of Clean+Healthy and co-leader of the JustGreen Partnership. "It is vital that the Senate and Assembly get key bills across the finish line to protect consumers' health, engage community members, and prevent further costly contamination of our precious drinking water."
"Time is running out for the New York State legislature to take meaningful action to protect New York consumers from exposure to PFAS in rugs, textiles, dental floss, household paint, nonstick cookware, ski wax, children’s products, personal care products, cosmetics, tampons, and much more,” said Kate Donovan, Northeast Director of Environmental Health at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Every day we're coming into contact with these products that are doing harm to human health. PFAS will never stop threatening our drinking water, health, and environment if it continues to be used and manufactured."
“This year's final budget was not reflective of working-class New Yorker's best interests in the fight against climate change. That is why this legislative session is all the more critical. Our state leaders have an opportunity to prioritize the fight for environmental justice in New York State and make this session a win for the communities most impacted by climate change and other environmental hazards,” said Briana Carbajal, WE ACT for Environmental Justice’s State Legislative Manager. “Passing the Beauty Justice and Toxics in Menstrual Products Act will significantly reduce the toxic chemicals our communities are disproportionately exposed to. Passing the Enhanced Public Participation Act will ensure that our communities have a voice in decisions that could introduce additional environmental threats to their communities. We urge the State Legislature to protect New York’s most vulnerable communities.”
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The JustGreen Partnership is a 17 year old diverse 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: just- green.org
