The Environmental Protection Agency has designated two forever chemicals used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, officials said.

The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday designated two forever chemicals that have been used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances, an action intended to ensure quicker cleanup of the toxic compounds and require industries and others responsible for contamination to pay for its removal.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday the designation of two forever chemicals as hazardous substances.

The final rule designates PFOA and PFOS — the most well-studied chemicals in the family of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, of PFAS — as hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, also known as the Superfund law.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated two of the most commonly used "forever chemicals" as hazardous substances under the federal Superfund law, in a bid to clean up properties across the United States that are contaminated with the toxic compounds.

PFAS are a family of thousands of chemicals used in consumer and commercial products like firefighting foams, nonstick pans and stain resistant fabrics. They have been linked to c