A. Dallas Wait, Ph.D.
Advising Principal
Dr. Wait is a chemistry expert with more than 45 years of experience characterizing consumer products, evaluating the source and fate of chemicals in the environment, designing test method and quality assurance programs, interpreting data, and determining the validity and usability of chemistry measurements and sampling procedures. Dr. Wait established Gradient’s Data Quality Management practice, and his consultations often resolved data quality issues, aided in agency negotiations concerning data usability, and provided pivotal chemistry testimony. More recently, his practice has expanded into the dietary supplement and food industries, resolving product adulteration and testing reliability issues. He is on the editorial board for two peer-reviewed journals, co-authored the second edition of US EPA’s SW 846 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Test Method Manual, and has published over 40 journal articles and 4 book chapters on the topic of data quality. Dr. Wait is a member of numerous scientific work groups and science advisory boards involved in developing and evaluating test methods and quality assurance programs. Dr. Wait was recently the Chair of US EPA’s Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB). Before joining Gradient in 1989, he was Technical Director, Vice President, and co-founder of ENSECO’s ERCO Laboratory, a nationally prominent environmental laboratory involved, in part, with oil spill research, agency method development studies, aquatic toxicology good laboratory practice (GLP) testing support, consumer product analysis, and site investigations.
Data Quality Expert for Deepwater Horizon Spill: Evaluated the quality, reliability, and usability of data produced for various investigations conducted in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill event. Most of the investigations were focused on anticipated natural resource damage (NRD) claims.
Manufacturing Adulteration of Dietary Supplements: Investigated possible whey dietary supplement adulteration by an ethanol manufacturing plant proposed to be constructed adjacent to the supplement manufacturing facility.
Data Usability/Lab Fraud Assessment: Testified on benzene measurement and representative sampling issues associated with testing petroleum refinery process wastewaters regulated under the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP). Issues concerning fraudulent laboratory activities were significant in the case.
Steroids in Dietary Supplements: Conducted a forensic investigation into the presence and source of anabolic steroids in a dietary supplement.
US EPA Office of Water Peer Review: Peer reviewed documents detailing detection limit and quantitation concepts for regulatory analytical chemistry methods in response to a settlement agreement between various trade associations and US EPA.
PCB Data Usability/Sampling Assessment: Testified on data quality issues mainly associated with PCB analyses for numerous site investigations at an operating manufacturing facility.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Testing Program: Evaluated the potential presence and exposure of PFAS in paper waste sludge piles.
Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Panel Director: Established and directed a GRAS panel to assess the safety of caffeine in an energy drink supplement.
Wait, AD; Tuit, CB; Maney, JP. 2020. “Forensic sampling practices for oil spills in the marine environment.” Environ. Forensics 21:310-318.
Wait, AD; Ramsey, C; Maney, J. 2015. “The measurement process.” In Introduction to Environmental Forensics (Third Edition). (Eds.: Murphy, BL; Morrison, RD), Elsevier Ltd., Oxford, England, p65-97.