In this episode, Leigh Anne Krometis discusses a multi-sector team effort to study the water quality and quantity issues of Peak Creek in Pulaski, VA following erosion along the creek's bank, which has led to exposure of uncapped, uncontained toxic material called "doodle dust" from previous industrial waste distributed as infill throughout the town by General Chemical/Allied Chemical. The conversation explores remediation considerations that address cultural, environmental, and economic factors and tradeoffs, and the health implications for recreational activity and drinking water quality.

Dr. Leigh-Anne Krometis is an Associate Professor in Biological Systems Engineering at Virginia Tech. She holds a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Engineering from the University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. Her primary area of expertise is the fate and transport of waterborne contaminants of environmental health concern. Over the past eight years, a significant portion of her research and outreach efforts have focused on the provision of safe drinking water and appropriate sanitation in rural Appalachia. Her efforts in this area has been funded by USDA, NIH, NSF, and the Appalachian Regional Commission.