Albany, NY – Today, Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal and a broad coalition of environmental and women’s rights advocates celebrated the passage of her bill banning the use of PFAS and other dangerous metals, such as lead and mercury, in menstrual products. The legislation also prohibits manufacturers from using fragrance, dye, colorant and other restricted substances in pads and tampons. The bill unanimously passed the Assembly.

Menstruators will use or insert between 10,000 and 16,000 pads and tampons over the course of their lifetime. Periods, on average, occur every month and last for seven days. A woman will have approximately 450 periods before reaching menopause.

“Women are not science experiments,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Housing. “For decades, manufacturing giants have sacrificed women’s health in pursuit of the almighty dollar. Since the first period product was sold in 1896, billion-dollar corporations have been granted complete discretion in determining which metals and chemicals they consider safe for women to insert into their bodies. With the passage of my bill, that practice ends.”

In 2019, Assemblymember Rosenthal passed a first-in-the nation law requiring ingredient labeling on period product packaging. The landmark legislation forced manufacturers to finally disclose the list of ingredients found in pads and tampons. This new legislation builds on that effort by now restricting the use of certain ingredients in menstrual products.

A landmark study conducted by Columbia University and the University of Michigan last summer found that 14 different popular menstrual brands contained 16 different kinds of metals. A 2023 study by the University of San Francisco, University of Michigan and University of Southern California, found that women who developed certain cancers, such as breast, skin, ovary and uterus, had higher levels of chemicals in their bodies, such as PFAS. The Federal Drug Administration does not regulate the use of chemicals or metals in period products.

“Women across this country are fighting tooth and nail for agency over their bodies and healthcare,” said Assemblymember Rosenthal. “New York must continue to be a beacon for women’s rights during this national battle by ensuring that everyone has access to safe and reliable menstrual products.”

The legislation is supported by a broad coalition, including, Clean + Healthy, the Sierra Club's Atlantic Chapter, the National Resources Defense Council, the New York League of Conservation Voters, Women’s Voices of the Earth and the Great Neck and Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition.

"We are thrilled that the Assembly has passed Assemblymember Rosenthal's bill to ban PFAS and other toxic chemicals in period products. Everyone deserves to have access to these intimate products that are free of health-harming chemicals, whether or not they know about chemical hazards, regardless of how much money they have in their pockets, and frankly, whether or not they think this is important." said Bobbi Wilding, Executive Director of Clean+Healthy. "Now, as we see rapid erosion of public health and environmental protections at the federal level, it's more important than ever that New York State enacts these protections. Governor Hochul, we look forward to you signing this bill into law without delay!" 

"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. The passage of A.1502/S.1548 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 is grateful for the leadership shown by Assemblymember Rosenthal and Senator Fernandez in getting this legislation passed in both houses this year and look forward to Governor Hochul signing the bill into law."

"It is mind-boggling to have to say this, but dangerous 'forever chemicals' have no place in products designed for intimate bodily use," said Kate Donovan, Senior Attorney & Northeast Director of Environmental Health at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council). "Bill A1502 / S1548 removes the burden from consumers to try to find less toxic products, and instead requires manufacturers to make products safe. The New York Legislature has finally taken the crucial step to protect New Yorkers that use menstrual products from dangerous chemicals that are known to cause serious health impacts.”