Joseph "Joe" Sabol is a chemist and chemical engineer, a consultant to the chemical, semiconductor, polymer, and related industries, specializing in technical and business development services Chem-Consult.

Sabol grew up on an apple farm Sabol Farm in Racine County, Wisconsin, and received B.S. (chemistry) from Carroll College (now Carroll University, Wisconsin) and Ph.D. (chemistry) from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater). After a postdoc in chemical engineering at University of Minnesota, Sabol taught analytical, physical, and environmental chemistry and studied the transport, magnetic, and crystallographic properties of transition metal oxides.

Sabol joined American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1976, was named ACS Fellow in 2018, and has served in ACS: Division of Small Chemical Businesses (SCHB) Councilor (2016-2024) and Program Chair (2007-2022), Upper Peninsula Local Section Treasurer (2008-2024), Great Lakes Region Director (2011-2024) and Treasurer (2019-2025), Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs CCPA (2015-2021), and Program Chair, Committee on Environment and Sustainability CES (2022-2025).

In 2003 Sabol was appointed to Marquette County [MI] Local Emergency Planning Committee and has been Chair since 2017. Sabol serves as Director, Friends of Peter White Public Library [Marquette, MI] (2022-2025)

Indoor Air Quality, adequate air exchange, MERV 13 filters, monitor for carbon dioxide, temperature, humidity, PM2.5 particulates, VOCs (volatile organic compounds.)

Local wastewater monitoring is useful in the detection of viruses and other substances of concern in public health.

Are you concerned about climate change? Be aware of contrarian claims. See, e.g., https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01714-4

SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is an airborne vector and MERV 13 filters and masks can slow spreading of aerosols.

Avoid poorly ventilated indoor areas, wear a mask when around others, and observe public health regulations. Practice prudent public health and hygiene.

Vaccines provide defense mechanisms if you become infected.

#BeWell #PutYourOwnOxygenMaskOnFirst

For more resources, see: https://chem-consult.com/page/sars-cov-2-and-coronavirus-and-covid-19-resources

Influenza is seasonal public health problem, see: https://chem-consult.com/page/influenza-resources __ Will we see you at ACS Fall 2024 in Denver, August 18-22?

Elevating the Discussion around Scientific Information

Information flows to us via many channels. Misleading information is more than an inconvenience, it can create chaos and delay or prevent decisions in areas such as public health, environmental action, and the market. Society action taken without regard for reliable information is undesirable. Assessing the quality of scientific literature is an art, a skill that not every member of society is capable of performing. Mis- and dis-information, claims not supported by evidence, can spread like wildfire; if unchallenged, societal polarization can increase and confidence in public institutions can erode. What are the best practices that we can share, to help society understand and resolve complex social and technical issues? This session brings elements of information theory, education, libraries, behavioral science, artificial intelligence, and public policy as tools to address misleading information. --

ACS Fall 2024 in Denver, August 18-22 Division of Energy & Fuels (ENFL) Elevating the Discussion around Methane The current global market value of methane (natural gas) is $105 billion and is projected to grow at least 5% per year. Methane is second in terms of contribution to the greenhouse gas inventory, between carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, and accounting for about 30% of the global warming since the industrial revolution; the atmospheric concentration of methane is increasing faster than at any time since record keeping began in the 1980s. Methane’s savior is its mean atmospheric lifetime of about ten years, providing a near-term opportunity to mitigate its atmospheric concentration, the imbalance between natural sources and sinks. This symposium includes methane sources and sinks, measurement, control, and use technology, climate modeling, regulatory impacts, and market supply and demand. --