Matrix New World Engineering Trail-Blazing National Director Presents at Numerous Conferences
Dr. Laurie LaPat-Polasko spoke at several conferences in Arizona and California.
- Newark, NJ (1888PressRelease) June 13, 2018 - Laurie LaPat-Polasko, PhD, QEP, Vice-President, National Director of Remediation, Matrix New World Engineering, Inc. (Matrix), spoke extensively on various environmental topics throughout the spring.
Dr. LaPat-Polasko covered issues ranging from key emerging contaminants in groundwater and soil, to the use of innovative microbial approaches that address complex co-contaminants.
In March of this year, Laurie presented at The Emerging Contaminants Summit in Westminster, CO, Arizona Chamber Environmental Breakfast Meeting, Phoenix, AZ, and the Environmental Professionals of Arizona 14th Annual Gatekeeper Regulatory Roundup.
For all three talks, Laurie discussed the significance of a new group of contaminants, Poly- and Pefluoralkyl Substances (PFAS), which are found in an array of household products, varying from carpets to cosmetics. Animal studies indicate that these chemicals may cause serious negative health effects. Laurie reviewed the chemistry and transport of these chemicals in our environment and the types of remediation technologies used to remove them from water and soil. In addition to the PFAS talk, Laurie also presented an innovative approach to clean up sites contaminated with chlorinated compounds with the use of different types of bacteria to biodegrade various compounds in the groundwater.
This past April, Dr. LaPat-Polasko made her final presentation at Battelle’s Eleventh International Conference in Palm Springs, CA where she spoke about using two diverse groups of microbes to biodegrade a variety of solvents. This approach provides a green, sustainable method to treat these harmful contaminants in groundwater and may eliminate the need to pump and treat large volumes of groundwater.
To speak with and/or set up an interview with Matrix, please contact Amy Delman, Amy Delman Public Relations, LLC, 201.563.4614 or amydelmanpr ( @ ) verizon dot net dot
Dr. Laurie LaPat-Polasko has more than 25 years of experience as a technical consultant, project manager and chief science officer for efforts involving groundwater and soil remediation and wastewater treatment. She combines her knowledge of microbiology with a background in civil engineering to develop cost effective remediation solutions for groundwater, surface water, soil and sediments impacted by organic and inorganic compounds. She has managed and performed numerous remedial investigation/feasibility study (RI/FS) efforts for complex problems associated with surface waters, groundwater and discharges from sewer systems. She has dealt with contaminants ranging from fluoride and arsenic to chlorinated organics, 1,4-dioxane, explosives and fuel compounds. She has also performed chemical fingerprinting analyses to establish the source and fate and transport of various contaminants in groundwater. Laurie has been actively involved in numerous Superfund (CERCLA) sites. She has developed, designed and implemented remediation plans for water and soil systems. She has field-and laboratory-tested aerobic and anaerobic methods for treating contaminated groundwater and soil and has studied the treatment role of various microbial communities. She has taught several graduate courses in water and soil remediation at Arizona State University. She also has extensive experience interacting with USEPA and various state, county and city regulatory agencies in the USA and overseas.
A true trailblazer, in the early 1980s, Laurie was one of 10 people selected into the Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellows program sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) which led to her affiliation with KTEH Public Television in San Jose, CA. It was there she spent time producing documentaries on the science of communication by interviewing scientists that studied dolphins at Marine World Africa USA and sea lions at California State University Hayward. From this vantage point, she was to able to observe and understand why communication skills are so critical to how we interconnect with each other.
For more information on Matrix, please contact Dennis Petrocelli at 800.747.MATRIX, dpetrocelli ( @ ) matrixneworld dot com.
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