Dr. Sarahann Rackl is a leading expert in chemical and microbial contamination in the areas of civil and environmental engineering. She brings more than two decades of experience advising clients on complex environmental and product risk issues including PFAS, microplastics, product stewardship, product liability, water quality, and microbial contamination.
Drawing on a robust, interdisciplinary technical and academic background in civil and environmental engineering, microbiology, and chemistry, Dr. Rackl’s work focuses on evaluating technologies, practices, liability risks, and regulatory compliance related to the environment and products. She has applied her expertise to the development of new products; conducting business case analyses; evaluating per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products and supply chains; and addressing microbial contamination risks in water systems. She regularly communicates technical findings with boards of directors, investors, regulators, legal counsel, and policymakers.
Dr. Sarahann Rackl brings together multidisciplinary teams to conduct root cause analyses of complex scenarios wherein identifying the sources of microbial and chemical contamination in engineered systems and environments. Often those analyses involve examinations into the source of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), other chemicals of concern, or Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. She also brings this expertise into product liability matters, where her investigations to bring products into compliance extend to manufacturing operations and supply chains.
Dr. Rackl specializes in the evaluation of chemical and microbial contamination from source to the drinking water tap. Dr. Rackl has supported clients in understanding and addressing current and anticipated regulations for many chemicals of concern, including PFAS, microplastics, 1,4-dioxane, bisphenols, and metals.
For nearly 10 years, the majority of Dr. Rackl’s work has been focused on PFAS, where she has conducted:
Dr. Rackl also conducts environmental assessments on the potential PFAS releases after large industrial fires and explosions.
Drawing upon her core wastewater and drinking water microbiology academic background, Dr. Rackl has supported numerous complex microbial contamination matters involving presence or potential presence of critical opportunistic microbial pathogens such as Legionella, Mycobacterium (Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in drinking water distribution and storage infrastructure, large building plumbing systems, and manufacturing operations. Her areas of focus include:
Dr. Rackl extends her environmental contamination experience to the development of robust product stewardship programs and supporting product liability programs. With the increase of state product- and chemical-specific regulations beyond California’s Proposition 65, Dr. Rackl supports companies in navigating the challenges of nuanced regulations and staying ahead of the rapidly changing chemicals of concern regulatory environment by developing sustainable product stewardship programs. In addition to this proactive work, Dr. Rackl has addressed and supported many matters involving PFAS, microplastics and other contaminants of concern, including false advertising claims and Proposition 65 claims, which often involve a critical assessment of the analytical chemistry data to evaluate scientific, regulatory, and product stewardship implications.
Dr. Rackl has developed numerous Proposition 65 compliance and product stewardship programs for companies with extensive product lines, including cosmetics and personal care products, children’s products, common consumer household and office products, commercial products, menstrual products, beverages, apparel, textiles, and specialty industrial products.
She also conducts consumer product and exposure risk assessments to help clients and organizations develop product stewardship and compliance strategies.
Legionnaires’ disease and the detection of Legionella, the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease, are once again making headlines. For building owners and operators, it is critical to understand where risks exist, how to maintain effective monitoring practices, and how to respond if and when detections occur.
As organizations face increasingly complex environmental challenges involving PFAS, microplastics, water quality, and product liability, Dr. Rackl brings more than two decades of experience helping clients investigate these issues, identify root causes, and navigate evolving regulatory requirements.
Unanimous Arbitration Panel Awards $25.4 Million in Biogas Facility EPC Dispute
Tanner Weil provided an expert report and testimony on behalf of Air Liquide, a multinational supplier of industrial gases and related services, in a construction dispute arbitration surrounding the development and construction of an anaerobic digester biogas facility in Pennsylvania. The unanimous arbitration panel awarded more than $25.4 million, an amount determined directly from Mr. Weil’s analysis and testimony.