Rock Vitale, CEAC

Senior Principal Chemist

Education

  • M.S. Chemistry Coursework, Villanova University
  • Additional Undergraduate Chemistry Courses, Villanova University
  • Additional Undergraduate Chemistry Courses, Rider College
  • B.S. Environmental Science & Biology, Marist College

Service Field Expertise

PFAS

Contact

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About Rock

Rock Vitale brings nearly 40 years of consulting chemistry experience to his role, with the past two decades dedicated to advancing the field of fluorochemistry—now widely recognized as PFAS science. Throughout his career, Rock has been a driving force behind cutting edge, chemistry consulting supporting industrial clientele. He has conducted in-depth audits of commercial chemical and biological laboratories across the country on behalf of industrial clients, ensuring data quality and laboratory performance meet the highest standards. His expertise in organic and inorganic data validation has been instrumental in providing critical third-party reviews of site-critical analytical data at numerous sites nationwide, enhancing the credibility and reliability of toxicological and remedial assessments.

In addition to his technical contributions, Rock plays a significant role in legal and litigation support related to a wide variety of contaminants, including PFAS, offering expert guidance in cases involving environmental and consumer products. His specialized knowledge assessing data quality, forensic analysis and methods development has made him a trusted resource for clients navigating complex regulatory and legal challenges.

Professional Affiliations

  • American Chemical Society – Member # 00971942
  • Editorial Board of The Chemist, A journal of The American Institute of Chemists, 2012 – Present
  • American Institute of Chemists – Fellow and elected Board Member, 1997 – 2002, 2007 – Present
    • Editor – The Chemist, 1995 – 2003
  • National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC)
    • Board of Directors, 2001 – 2010
  • Appointed Federal Advisory Committee Board Member – Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB), 2004 – 2010
  • The Royal Society of Chemistry – Member # 335273
  • The Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Inc. – Fellow 31900
  • American Society of Testing and Materials – Member (Subcommittee D20, F08, F15, E36 and E50)
    • Co-Chair F15.81 PFAS in Consumer Products
  • American Society of Quality Control – Member (Symposium Co-Chair, 1995
  • American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) Member # 158051
  • Appointed National PFAS Leader – Montrose Environmental Group, 2024

Registrations & Certifications

  • Fellow-American Institute of Chemists (FAIC) – American Institute of Chemists, Alexandria, Virginia.
  • Certified Environmental Analytical Chemist (CEAC) – National Registry of Certified Chemists (NRCC), Washington, DC – Registrant # 2510.
  • Chartered Fellow Chemist (FRACI CChem) – The Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Inc. – 31900.

Publications

  • Vitale, R. J. and J. Acker. An Assessment of the Potential for Leaching of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Fluorinated and Non-Fluorinated High-Density Polyethylene Containers” Environmental Advances.  Volume 9, October 2022.
  • Fiorenza, S., E. Denly, R. J. Vitale, N. Nigro, M. C. Leahy, C. Neslund, D. R. Blye, and N. Farmer. PFAS Experts Symposium 2: An update on advances in the chemical analysis of PFAS. Remediation Journal, 1– 9. January 17, 2022.
  • Felix, A., Gable, J., Vitale, R.J., Gratson, D., Carriker, N. “The Challenges Associated with Generating Part-Per-Trillion Measurements of Hexavalent Chromium in Groundwater.” Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. May 2020.
  • Vitale, R. J. “Standard Guide for Selection and Application of Analytical Methods and Procedures Used during Sediment Corrective Action.” Chapter 10, Analytical Method Development, ASTM E3163. November 18, 2018.
  • Gruzalski J.G., Markwiese J.T., Carriker N.E., Rogers W.J., Vitale R.J., Thal D.I. “Pore Water Collection, Analysis and Evaluation. The Need for Standardization.” Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Vol. 237 (2016).
  • Thompson, C. M., J. Seifert, M. A. Chapell, R.V. Tapperot, D. M. Proctor, M. Suh, J. C. Wolf, L. C. Haws, R. J. Vitale, L. Mittal, C. R. Kirman, S. M. Hays, and M. A. Harris. “Synchrotron-Based Imaging of Chromium and γ-H2AX Immunostaining in the Duodenum Following Repeated Exposure to Cr(VI) in Drinking Water.” Toxicological Sciences, Vol. 143, Issue 1 (2015): 116-25.
  • Markwiese J. T., W. J. Rogers, N. E. Carriker, D. I. Thal, G. Gruzalski, E. E. Rodgers, C. M. Babyak, R. T., Ryti, R. J. Vitale. “Monitoring the Natural Attenuation of Coal Combustion Waste in River Sediments.” Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Vol. 186, Issue 8 (August 2014).
  • Kraycik J. P., MEM-0113, S. D Brower, R. J. Vitale, R. J., W. J. Rogers. “Evaluating Anomalous Surface Water Lead Results Associated with the TVA Kingston Fly Ash Recovery Project.” The Professional Geologist, Vol. 50, No. 2 (Mar/Apr 2013).
  • Li, M., P. Conlon, S. Fiorenza, R. J. Vitale, and P. J. J. Alvarez. “Rapid Analysis of 1,4-Dioxane in Groundwater by Frozen Micro-Extraction with Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry.” Ground Water Monitoring & Remediation, 2011.
  • Vitale, R. J. and O. Braids. Environmental Site Characterization and Groundwater Monitoring, Chapter 16, 2nd Taylor and Francis Publishers, Inc., 2006.
  • Rahman, G. M., H. M. “Skip” Kingston, T. G. Towns, R. J. Vitale, and K. R. Clay. “Determination of Hexavalent Chromium Using Speciated Isotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry on Microwave Speciated Extraction of Environmental and Other Solid Materials.” Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Vol. 382, No. 4 (2005).
  • Vitale, R. J. and O. Braids (D. M. Nielson, editor) “Ground Water Sample Analysis.” A Practical Handbook of Ground-Water Monitoring, Second Edition. Chelsea MI Lewis Publishers, Inc. 2005.
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, K. A. Rinehimer, K. L. Moeser, and J. C. Petura. “An Evaluation of a Technical Holding Time for the Preparation and Analysis for Hexavalent Chromium in Soils/Sediments.” Soil and Sediment Contamination, Vol. 9, No. 3 (2000): 247-259.
  • Thal, D. I., and R. J. Vitale. “Toward Improved Understanding of Isotope Dilution Methods.” Environmental Testing & Analysis, Vol. 8, No. 6 (1999): 19-20.
  • Vitale, R. J., R. L. Forman, and L. J. Dupes. “Comparison of VOC Results Between Methods 5030 and 5035 on a Large Multi-State Hydrocarbon Investigation.” Environmental Testing & Analysis, Vol. 8, No. 1 (1999): 18-36.
  • Dupes, L. J., R. J. Vitale, and D. J. Caillouet. “Ignitability Performance Evaluation Study: Are Your Waste Streams Being Correctly Characterized.” Environmental Testing & Analysis, Vol. 7, No. 5 (1998): 18-30.
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, K. A. Rinehimer, K. L. Moeser, and J. C. Petura. “An Evaluation of a Technical Holding Time for the Preparation and Analysis for Hexavalent Chromium in Soils/Sediments.” Journal of Soil Contamination (1998).
  • Petura, J. C., B. R. James, R. J. Vitale, and G. R. Mussoline. “Chromium(VI) Extraction from Soils and Quantitation.” Encyclopedia of Environmental Analysis and Remediation. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons Publishers, (1998): 1142-1158.
  • Lancaster, D. J. and R. J. Vitale. “An Evaluation of Methods for Quantifying Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Environmental Samples.” The Chemist, Vol. 74, No. 5 (1997): 23-28.
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, and K. A. Rinehimer. “Environmental Monitoring of Chromium in Air, Soil, and Water.” Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology 26 (1997): 580-585.
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, K. A. Rinehimer, J. C. Petura, and B. R. James. “Extraction of Sparingly Soluble Chromate From Soils: Evaluation of Methods and Eh-pH Effects.” Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 31, No. 2 (1997): 390-394.
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, J. C. Petura, and B. R. James. “Method 3060A – Alkaline Digestion for Hexavalent Chromium.” SW-846 Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Wastes Third Update of the Third Edition (June 13, 1997).
  • James, B. R., J. C. Petura, R. J. Vitale, and G. R. Mussoline. “Oxidation-Reduction Chemistry of Chromium: Relevance to the Regulation and Remediation of Chromate-Contaminated Soils.” Journal of Soil Contamination, Vol. 6, No. 6 (1997).
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, J. C. Petura, and B. R. James. “Cr(VI) Soil Analytical Method: A Reliable Analytical Method for Extracting and Quantifying Cr(VI) in Soils.” Journal of Soil Contamination, Vol. 6, No. 6 (1997).
  • Clark, M. A. and R. J. Vitale. “How to Assess Data Quality for Better Decisions.” Clearwater New York Water Environmental Association (NYWEA), Vol. 26, No. 2 (Summer 1996).
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, and K. A. Rinehimer. “Chromium Speciation Analysis in Soils/Sediments – Zero Percent Matrix Spike Recoveries May Not Equal Unreliable Data.” Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils Chapter 15. Amherst, MA: American Scientific Publishers, 1996.
  • Vitale, R. J. (Keith B. Hoddinott, editor). “Assessing Data Quality for Risk Assessment Through Data Validation.” Superfund Risk Assessment in Soil Contamination Studies: Second Volume, ASTM STP1264. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials, (1996): 35-44.
  • Symms, K. G., K. G. Lawrence, D. H. Wardrop, and R. J. Vitale (W. J. van den Brink, R. Bosman, F. Arendt, editors). “Modeling VOC Migration and Vapor Intrusion into Building Indoor Air from Subsurface Soil Sources.” Contaminated Soil ‘95. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1995.
  • James, B. R., J. C. Petura, R. J. Vitale, and G. R. Mussoline. “Hexavalent Chromium Extraction from Soils: A Comparison of Five Methods.” Environmental Science and Technology, Vol. 29, No. 9 (1995).
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, J. C. Petura, and B. R. James. “Hexavalent Chromium Quantification in Soils: An Effective and Reliable Procedure.” American Environmental Laboratory, Vol. 7, Document No. 3 (April 1995).
  • Vitale, R. J., G. R. Mussoline, J. C. Petura, and B. R. James. “Hexavalent Chromium Extraction from Soils: Evaluation of an Alkaline Digestion Method.” Journal of Environmental Quality 23 (1994): 1249-1256.
  • Vitale, R. J., O. Braids, and R. Schuller (D.M. Nielsen, editor). “Ground-Water Sample Analysis.” A Practical Handbook of Ground-Water Monitoring. Chelsea, MI: Lewis Publishers, Inc., 1991.
  • Blye, D. R. and R. J. Vitale. “The Cost of Quality Environmental Analysis.” Pennsylvania’s Environment. (March 1996).
  • Grega, K. K. and R. J. Vitale. “Validating Radiological Data.” Environmental Laboratory (November 1995).
  • Vitale, R., G. Mussoline, J. Petura, and B. James. A Method Evaluation Study of an Alkaline Digestion (Modified Method 3060) Followed by Colorimetric Determination (Method 7196A) for the Analysis of Hexavalent Chromium in Solid Matrices. Submitted to US EPA Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (SW-846), 199.
  • Vitale, R. J., O. Braids, and R. Schuller (D.M. Nielsen, editor). “Ground-Water Sample Analysis.” A Practical Handbook of Ground-Water Monitoring. Chelsea, MI: Lewis Publishers, Inc., 1991.
  • US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). Functional Guidelines for Evaluating Organic Analyses with Modifications for Use Within Region III. Technical Directive Document No. HQ-8410-01. Washington, DC: US EPA Data Validation Workgroup, 1987.