EPA taking action on two types of forever chemicals [Video]

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — PFAS, or forever chemicals, can be found almost anywhere, from drinking water to cookware to certain hygiene products.

On April 19, The Environmental Protection Agency designated two types of PFAS, PFOS and PFOA, as hazardous substances.

“They don’t degrade in the environment, they don’t degrade in us,” explained Arizona State University Chemistry Professor Tim Long.

PFAS are chemicals that resist grease, oil, water, and heat. They were first used in products in the 1940s.

The EPA designation of the two types of PFAS as hazardous substances will allow the federal agency to take action on contaminated sites, speed up clean-up efforts, and make manufacturers who contributed to the problem pay for it all.

The American Chemistry Council, which represents the chemical industry, strongly opposes the EPA’s action and believes it “will undermine overall remediation efforts” for PFAS contamination.

“This has been an issue that’s been lingering for many years but now we’re …