In this episode we’re kicking off a two-part series exploring PFAS—also known as “forever chemicals”—and their impact on private well users. Jennifer and Steve are joined by Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson and Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, two leading experts in environmental health and water quality. Together, they break down the science behind PFAS, discuss how these chemicals enter our water supplies, and share new research on exposure risks for private well users. Our conversation explores the challenges, health implications, and ongoing efforts to protect drinking water in rural communities.
Topics Discussed
- Meet Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
- Meet Jennifer Hoponick Redmon
- RTI International
- Water Hero: local and regional environmental health specialists
- Consumer Product Safety Commission White Paper on PFAS
- PFAS Mapper Tool (in development)
“ One of the reasons [PFAS] are so slow to break down is exactly the reason they’re so useful. They have a chain of carbons attached to fluorine, one of the strongest chemical bonds that exist.”
Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson
Go Further
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About the Guests
Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson serves as Head of the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University, where she leads a dynamic engineering department that is engaged in a wide range of big problems that affect everyday lives—from designing safer skyscrapers, airports, and roadways to ensuring access to safe, affordable drinking water and clean air. With a foundation of 13 years in high-impact public policy roles before transitioning to academia, Dr. Gibson’s research integrates advanced engineering methods to identify innovative solutions for mitigating environmental risks and shaping evidence-based public policy.
Her distinguished public policy career includes serving as Associate Director of the U.S. National Research Council’s Water Science and Technology Board and acting as a key liaison to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during her tenure with The RAND Corporation. Her interdisciplinary research addresses critical global challenges, ranging from optimizing water infrastructure to enhance public health in the United States to developing strategic frameworks for prioritizing environmental policy initiatives in the United Arab Emirates.
A recognized leader in the field, Dr. Gibson is the President of the Society for Risk Analysis and serves as an Associate Editor for Environmental Science & Technology, one of the premier journals in environmental engineering and science. She holds dual PhDs in Engineering and Public Policy and in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, an MS in Environmental Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a BA in Mathematics from Bryn Mawr College. Dr. Gibson’s career exemplifies the power of interdisciplinary expertise to address pressing environmental challenges and influence transformative policy decisions worldwide.
Jennifer Hoponick Redmon serves as Senior Director, Environmental Health and Water Quality at RTI International and by trade is a Senior Environmental Health Scientist and Chemical Risk Assessment Specialist. Her educational background integrates the scientific and policy areas of environmental chemistry, toxicology, risk assessment, environmental policy, and natural resource management. Ms. Redmon is known for her ability to synthesize complex environmental problems into practical solutions that improve the natural and built environment. Her experience includes a blend of practical field and laboratory expertise, cross-cutting technical knowledge, a love of collaboration, excellent communication skills, and an unwavering commitment to improving public health and the environment over her 17-year career. She has received numerous awards recognizing her achievements, including a 40 Under 40 Leadership Award from the Triangle Business Journal as one of the “best and brightest business and community leaders.” At RTI, Ms. Redmon leads multi-disciplinary and community-engaged environmental research projects. She is particularly interested in identifying chemicals in the environment, supporting risk communication and mitigation measures to improve environmental health outcomes, and building resiliency in the food, energy, and water nexus.