What’s in That Cleaner?

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has announced the launch of an initiative to require manufacturers of household cleaning products sold in New York to disclose chemical ingredients on their websites. The state is the first in the country to require such disclosure. Household cleaning products may contain chemicals with negative health impacts for humans and the environment. The initiative, overseen by the Department of Environmental Conservation, requires that manufacturers identify all the ingredients and impurities in their products, including those that are chemicals of concern.

In addition to the information appearing on company websites, New York will work with the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse to develop and maintain a database of links to company information. The draft form that manufacturers are required to complete and file is now available for public review and comment. Additionally, the D.E.C. has proposed new restrictions that would reduce the amount of perchloroethylene, identified as a likely human carcinogen that is widely used in dry cleaning, and other potentially dangerous dry-cleaning solvents that are released into the environment.