Peter LaPuma

M.B.A., M.S., Ph.D.

Professor

Full-time

School: Milken Institute School of Public Health

Department: Environmental and Occupational Health

Contact:

Email: Peter LaPuma

Mobile Phone: 202-994-5185

Milken Institute School of Public Health 950 New Hampshire Avenue, NW #417 Washington DC 20052

Sustainable energy and sustainable living have long been areas of academic and personal interest for Professor LaPuma. "We are in the early stages of many major energy transformations that power our world with cleaner, cheaper and sustainable forms of energy. With many new innovations in development, the world will look much different in just 10 years," he says. Among his research activities, Professor LaPuma has studied the carbon emissions of electric vehicles, compared to gasoline-powered vehicles, the payback time of installing wind turbines, and the potential of geothermal energy. He has studied the feasibility of utility scale solar systems, wind farms and alternative fuel facilities for the federal government. He has also worked with Kuwait and Oman in developing solar systems to offset oil and gas consumption.

Prior to joining the GW SPH faculty in 2009 (after four years as an adjunct), Dr. LaPuma was a faculty member at the Air Force Institute of Technology and the Uniformed Services University. He developed a wide range of environmental science courses, covering such topics as sustainable life cycle design, environmental and occupational health, public health risk assessment, the legal framework for pollution, and toxicology. His teaching skills were recognized with a series of "teacher of the year" awards.

Dr. LaPuma retired from the Air Force in 2007, after 21 years, and then served as a sustainable energy consultant to Booz Allen Hamilton. Putting his academic interests into real-world application, he also designed a sustainable subdivision on a Virginia farm and designed and built his own earth berm home.

Expertise

EXPERTISE:

Climate Change

Environmental Health Policy

Environmental and Occupational Health

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science (Mechanical engineering), Clarkson University, 1986

Masters in Business Administration, Wright State University, 1991

Master of Science (Engineering and Environmental management), Air Force Institute of Technology, 1995

Doctor of Philosophy (Environmental engineering and sciences), University of Florida, 1998

TEACHING:

PubH 6126: Assessment and Control of Environmental Hazards, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health

PubH 6004: Environmental and Occupational Health in a Sustainable World
Tutorials: Chemistry concepts, Biochemistry, Math

PubH 6130: Sustainable Energy and the Environment

PubH 3150: Sustainable Energy and Environmental Health (Undergraduates)

COMMUNITY SERVICE:

Professor La Puma has been a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association, the Association of Energy Engineering and other professional associations, and a peer reviewer for Journal of Occupational and Environment Hygiene, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology and International Life Cycle Assessment Journal. He has also been a Boy Scout leader for 12 years.

Research

RESEARCH:

Dr. LaPuma's research currently focuses on lifecycle assessment of the air pollutant and greenhouse gas emissions associated with various sustainable energy strategies, with particular attention to economic payback analyses. He has also published on advanced chemical agent and explosives detection for crime scene investigations, airport passenger screening systems, and terrorist attacks and on the bioavailability of chromate, a human lung carcinogen from aviation primer paints.

Publications

PUBLICATIONS:

An Assessment of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated With the Use of Water, Sand, and Chemicals in Shale Gas Production of the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale
Sibrizzi C, LaPuma, PT, An Assessment of Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions Associated With the Use of Water, Sand, and Chemicals in Shale Gas Production of the Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale. Journal of Env Health 2016 Nov 79(4)

An Overview of Occupational Risks From Climate Change
Applebaum, KM, Graham J, Gray GM, LaPuma, PT, McCormick, SA, Northcross A, Perry MJ, An Overview of Occupational Risks From Climate Change. Current Environmental Health Reports 2016 Mar. DOI: 10.1007/s40572-016-0081-4

An Approach to Integrating Occupational Safety and Health into Life Cycle Assessment: Development and Application of Work Environment Characterization Factors
Scanlon, KA, Lloyd, SM, Gray, GM, Francis, RA and LaPuma, PT. An Approach to Integrating Occupational Safety and Health into Life Cycle Assessment: Development and Application of Work Environment Characterization Factors. Journal of Industrial Ecology May 29, 2014. DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12146

The work environment disability-adjusted life year for use with life cycle assessment: a methodological approach
Scanlon KA, Gray GM, Francis RA, Lloyd SM, LaPuma P. The work environment disability-adjusted life year for use with life cycle assessment: a methodological approach. Environ Health. 2013 Mar 6;12:21. doi: 10.1186/1476-069X-12-21.
Evaluation of CS (o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile) Concentrations During U.S. Army Mask Confidence Training
Hout, JH, Kluchinsky T, LaPuma, PT, White, DW, "Evaluation of CS (o-Chlorobenzylidene Malononitrile) Concentrations During U.S. Army Mask Confidence Training", Journal of Environmental Health, Vol 73, No 3, Oct 2011.
Using gas chromatography with ion mobility spectrometry to resolve explosive compounds in the presence of interferents
Cook GW, LaPuma PT, Hook GL, Eckenrode BA. Using gas chromatography with ion mobility spectrometry to resolve explosive compounds in the presence of interferents. J Forensic Sci. 2010 Nov;55(6):1582-91.
Identification of compounds formed during low temperature thermal dispersion of encapsulated o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS riot control agent)
Hout JJ, Hook GL, Lapuma PT, White DW. Identification of compounds formed during low temperature thermal dispersion of encapsulated o-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS riot control agent). J Occup Environ Hyg. 2010 Jun;7(6):352-7.
Design of sorbent hydrogen bond acidic polycarbosilanes for chemical sensor applications.
Houser EJ, Simonson DL, Stepnowski JL, et al. Design of sorbent hydrogen bond acidic polycarbosilanes for chemical sensor applications. In: Reynolds JG, Lawson GE, editors. Polymers and materials for antiterrorism and homeland defense. American Chemical Society Symposium Series 980. 3rd ed. New York: Oxford Press. 2008.
Toxicology principles for the industrial hygienist.
Hook GL, LaPuma PT, Morris GA. The Toxicology of metals. In: Luttrell WE, Jederberg WW, Still KR, editors. Toxicology principles for the industrial hygienist. Fairfax, Va.: American Industrial Hygiene Association; 2008. p. 209-21.
Chemical agent identification by field-based attenuated total reflectance infrared detection and solid phase microextraction.
Bryant CK, LaPuma PT, Hook GL, Houser EJ. Chemical agent identification by field-based attenuated total reflectance infrared detection and solid phase microextraction. Anal Chem 2007 Feb; 79 (6):2334?40. DOI: 10.1021/ac062047u
Factors that influence the submaximal cycle ergometry fitness test,
Hunn MH, LaPuma PT, Holt DT. Factors that influence the submaximal cycle ergometry fitness test, J Exercise Physiology 2002 Feb;5 (1):5-14.
Lifecycle comparison using Monte Carlo simulation for electric versus gasoline powered vehicles.
McCleese DL, LaPuma PT. Lifecycle comparison using Monte Carlo simulation for electric versus gasoline powered vehicles. Int J Life Cycle Assess 2002 Feb;7 (4):230-6.
Chromate dissociation from three types of paint particles.
LaPuma PT, Schilke RA, Kauth DA, Morgan TJ. Chromate dissociation from three types of paint particles. Reg Tox Pharm 2002 Dec; 36:325-30.
Chromate content versus particle size for aircraft.
LaPuma PT, Rhodes BS. Chromate content versus particle size for aircraft. Reg Tox Pharm 2002 Dec;36:318-24.