(August 24, 2006) — ALBANY — Products with names like Earth's Choice, Sustainable Earth and Green Knight will fill janitors' closets this fall as schools around the state comply with a new law that requires "environmentally friendly" cleaning supplies.

Concerns about the harmful health effects chemicals can have, especially on children, and a realization that cleaners with reduced amounts of potentially dangerous ingredients are increasingly available prompted the legislation, which takes effect Sept. 1.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates human exposure to air pollutants indoors can be two to five times higher than outdoor levels. Some of the culprits are cleaners, waxes and deodorizers. Reducing or eliminating potentially harmful ingredients helps protect the environment and water supply, according to the legislation's sponsors.

The state School Boards Association supports the measure but has had some questions about the law, such as whether the "greener" products would cost more and clean as well as traditional ones, spokesman David Ernst said.

Prices of the environmentally friendly cleaners are comparable to others on the market, said Christine Burling, a spokeswoman for the state Office of General Services.

Schools don't have to throw away cleaners that aren't on the state's list of approved products for cleaning products, vacuum cleaners and sanitary paper products, she said. They can use them up before buying green ones. The new law applies to buildings and grounds at all public and private elementary and secondary schools.

A number of groups and parents have criticized the regulations, saying they don't go far enough to protect children. The state stands by the guidelines, Burling said.

"As science and technology evolve, we anticipate that we'll be making changes," she said.

The Office of General Services and the state Education Department have to issue a report by June 1 on the law's impact on schools.

The legislation, which passed in 2005, was sponsored by state Sen. Stephen Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, and Sen. James Alesi, R-Perinton.

Grassroots Environmental Education, a nonprofit on Long Island, thinks the state should have adopted stricter guidelines, said Patti Wood, executive director. For example, the organization wanted to exclude all products with added fragrances and chemicals that can negatively affect the endocrine system, she said.

"Overall, it didn't go far enough. They missed an opportunity to really protect children, who are uniquely vulnerable to all kinds of environmental exposures," she said.

Children, especially young ones, are more likely to come into contact with cleaning chemicals, and they are more vulnerable than adults because of their size and age, she said.

The state's list of products notes which ones have added fragrances, and the guidelines recommend reducing the use of those to the extent possible.

Most cleaners on the state's list are certified by Green Seal or Environmental Choice. According to Wood, the standards are not as strict as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Design for the Environment program, which includes information on eco-friendly cleaning products.

A statement on the Office of General Services' Web site said the agency anticipates working with the Design for the Environment program, among others, in updating regulations, but any changes will be based on "solid scientific studies and research."

Potential harmful effects of cleaners, waxes and deodorizers are skin and eye irritation, asthma attacks, and neurological impacts, Wood said. Some parents have taken their children out of school because of exposure to chemicals there, she said.

"If there is a single ingredient in any cleaning product that will cause an asthmatic attack, it would be the fragrance, and there are a lot of children with asthma in our schools," she said.

Grassroots Environmental Education will share its product recommendations with each school, Wood said. New York State United Teachers, the state's largest union, backed the legislation as a good first step toward making schools healthier and safer for children and staff, spokesman Carl Korn said. But the union has a concern similar to that of Wood's group.

"The legislation requires them to use green, healthy products but not the highest rated ones, and that's something that we're going to be working towards in the future," he said.

CLMATTHE@Gannett.com