Michigan officials declared a state of emergency on Sunday after high levels of Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) were discovered in Kalamazoo County tapwater, reports Mlive.com

The declaration was made by Lt. Gov. Brian Calley (R), several days after the toxic compound was found in the water supply of Parchment and Cooper Township.

“This declaration will allow the state to supply additional resources to help with response efforts and ensure the health and safety of residents in Parchment and Cooper Township,” Calley said in a statement, adding “This helps make sure that every resource that is possible is on the table and that we can work as expeditiously together as we possibly can.”

“State and local officials and members of the community have been working in full partnership to ensure people in the area have safe water in the short, medium and long term,” Calley said.

Officials detected a concentration of 1,587 parts per trillion of PFAS substances, while the EPA’s maximum recommended dose is 70 parts per trillion. Recent research by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, however, suggests that single-digit levels of the compounds can cause health problems, reports The Hill.

Crews from Kalamazoo are currently working to flush Parchment’s water lines, which may stir up sediment and discolor the water – which residents are advised not to drink. In the meantime, officials are distributing water at Parchment High School.

PFAS compounds can be found in food packaging, commercial household products – especially those with Teflon and other nonstick surfaces. They are an emerging public health threat across Michigan – having contaminated the water supplies of over 20 communitiesacross the state.

The compounds can cause low infant birth weight, immune system issues, cancers, and thyroid hormone disruptions.

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