YPSILANTI, MI – State and federal officials are inviting area residents to a forum Tuesday night to discuss PFAS contamination and efforts to clean up and set standards for the toxic chemicals.

The town hall meeting takes place from 7-8:30 p.m. Aug. 20 inside Eastern Michigan University’s Student Center Auditorium, 900 Oakwood St., in Ypsilanti.

“Recent reporting has shown there is an expanding PFAS contamination crisis in Michigan and across the country,” U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell’s office stated in a news release.

“PFAS chemicals have been linked to liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, and several forms of cancer. These chemicals have continued to show up in drinking water and communities, especially near military facilities, commercial airports, and manufacturing sites.”

Dingell, D-Dearborn, is hosting the forum with state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, and state Reps. Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, Ronnie Peterson, D-Ypsilanti Township, and Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor.

RSVPs are encouraged, but not required, here.

With at least 192 sites contaminated, Michigan has the most known PFAS sites in the United States, Dingell’s office noted, referencing data from the Environmental Working Group.

There’s PFAS pollution in the Huron River that has contaminated Ann Arbor’s municipal drinking water supply, as well as PFAS in groundwater at multiple sites in Washtenaw County.

Despite PFAS contamination in groundwater at Ypsilanti Township’s Willow Run Airport at more than five times the acceptable level, state officials said in June there’s no imminent threat to the public.

“The drinking water is safe in this area,” said Gerald Tiernan of the state Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. "If you have city water provided by (the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority) there is not PFAS in that water.”

While there are some residential drinking water wells located north (up-gradient) of the Willow Run facility, no residential or commercial wells have been found to be threatened by the contamination, according to the state website.