Forever Chemicals: Environmental, Economic, and Social Equity Concerns with Pfas in the Environment

This book provides a comprehensive understanding of today’s ever-evolving issues with per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in the environment. It delivers an in-depth perspective into various issues including: health, regulation, detection, clean-up strategies and technologies, and more.

David M. Kempisty is Senior Business Development Manager for Emerging Contaminants at Evoqua Water Technologies. He is a licensed engineer focusing on PFAS and contaminant removal technologies. As a member of Evoqua’s Environmental Solutions Technology and Innovation Team, he is involved with bench- and pilot-scale testing of activated carbons, ionic exchange resins, novel adsorbents, and innovative technologies. Prior to joining Evoqua, Dr. Kempisty served 22 years in the United States Air Force as a bioenvironmental engineer in a variety of capacities around the globe. As director of the Air Force graduate school’s Environmental Engineering and Science Program, his research investigated per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) and included toxicological studies, remedial investigations, and life cycle considerations of treatment alternatives. His research was recognized with awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Research and Development in 2017 and 2018. Dave earned his PhD from the University of Colorado-Boulder in Civil and Environmental Engineering in 2014 where he focused on removal of PFAS from groundwater using granular activated carbon. Dr. Kempisty earned his MS from the Air Force Institute of Technology and his BS from Michigan Technological University. Dr. Kempisty was lead editor of the text, Perfluoroalkyl Substances in the Environment, published in 2018, and has authored over 25 peer-reviewed papers and presentations on a variety of environmental topics. He maintains active memberships to multiple local and national professional organizations.

LeeAnn Racz is President and Founder of ClearView Environmental Engineering and Consulting, LLC, providing environmental and occupational health services to clients around the world. Prior to this initiative, she served for 23 years as a bioenvironmental engineer and civil engineer in the US Air Force. Some highlights of Dr. Racz’s military assignments include squadron commander, chief of consultative services at the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, director of the Graduate Environmental Engineering and Science Program at the Air Force Institute of Technology. Dr. Racz is a licensed professional engineer, certified industrial hygienist, and board-certified environmental engineer. She earned a BS in environmental engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, an MS in biological and agricultural engineering from the University of Idaho, and a PhD in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Utah. She has authored dozens of refereed journal articles, conference proceedings, magazine articles, and presentations, and edited six handbooks. Dr. Racz is a member of several professional organizations and honor societies and has received numerous prestigious teaching and research awards.