The Environmental Protection Agency published a final rule Tuesday cracking down on toxic air pollution from chemical and plastics plants, seeking to reduce exposure to two cancer-linked chemical compounds, ethylene oxide and chloroprene, while also giving plant owners slightly more time to comply.

Once implemented, EPA officials said, the final rule will achieve a nearly 80% reduction in emissions from ethylene oxide and chloroprene, two toxic compounds linked to certain types of cancers, including lymphoma, leukemia, breast cancer, and liver cancer.