New York lawmakers have approved legislation to ban the use of a chemical compound used in personal care and home products known as 1,4-dioxane.

The bill, passed early Friday morning, requires manufacturers to remove most 1,4-dioxane from their products. Companies would have three years to change their process so only trace amounts of the compound are found.

Adrienne Esposito, of Citizens Campaign for the Environment, says 1,4-dioxane is believed to be toxic. She's led the effort to convince lawmakers to force companies to get the chemical out of their products, including laundry soap, shampoo and cleaning products.

Esposito calls it "a victory that belongs to the public" and sets a national precedent.

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a sponsor of the bill, says it passed unanimously in the Senate. He says the state Department of Environmental Conservation would monitor the companies to make sure they are in compliance, if the governor signs it.

A spokesman for Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he is reviewing the bill.