Joseph "Joe" Sabol is a chemist and chemical engineer, a consultant to the chemical, semiconductor, polymer, and related industries, specializing in technical and business development services Chem-Consult.

Sabol grew up on an apple farm Sabol Farm in Racine County, Wisconsin, and received B.S. (chemistry) from Carroll College (now Carroll University, Wisconsin) and Ph.D. (chemistry) from Oklahoma State University (Stillwater). After a postdoc in chemical engineering at University of Minnesota, Sabol taught analytical, physical, and environmental chemistry and studied the transport, magnetic, and crystallographic properties of transition metal oxides.

Sabol joined American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1976, was named ACS Fellow in 2018, and has served in ACS: Division of Small Chemical Businesses (SCHB) Councilor (2016-2024) and Program Chair (2007-2022), Upper Peninsula Local Section Treasurer (2008-2025), Great Lakes Region (GLR) Director (2011-2025) and Treasurer (2019-2025), Committee on Chemistry and Public Affairs CCPA (2015-2021), and Committee on Environment and Sustainability CES (2022-2025).

In 2003 Sabol was appointed to Marquette County [MI] Local Emergency Planning Committee and has been Chair since 2017. Sabol serves on Board of Directors, Friends of Peter White Public Library [Marquette, MI] (2022-2025).

Are you concerned about climate change?
See, e.g., https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-01714-4 https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw1532

Good Indoor Air Quality requires adequate fresh air exchange, MERV 13 filters, monitor temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide CO2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde (H2CO), particulates PM2.5, and radon.

SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is an airborne vector and MERV 13 filters and masks can slow spreading of aerosols. Avoid poorly ventilated indoor areas, wear a mask when around others, and observe public health regulations. Practice prudent public health and hygiene. Vaccines provide defense mechanisms if you become infected.

Local wastewater monitoring is useful in the detection of viruses and other substances of concern in public health. See, e.g., COVID-19: Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program Wisconsin Wastewater Monitoring Program updated method of calculating concentration categories. https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/covid-19/wastewater.htm

For more information, see: https://chem-consult.com/page/sars-cov-2-and-coronavirus-and-covid-19-resources

What You Need to Know about Foodborne Illnesses
This link shows foodborne disease-causing organisms that frequently cause illness in the United States. The threats are numerous and varied, with symptoms ranging from relatively mild discomfort to very serious,life-threatening illness. While the very young, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk of serious consequences from most foodborne illnesses, some of the organisms shown below pose grave threats to all persons.
https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/what-you-need-know-about-foodborne-illnesses

American Chemical Society
Great Lakes Regional Meeting 2025
Chemical Business: Resources and Best Practices
Appleton, Wisconsin
June 4-6, 2025
https://GLR-ACS.org

American Chemical Society
ACS Fall 2025
Washington DC, August 17-21
ENFL & GEOC Methane: Policy for a Greenhouse Gas
The global market value of methane (natural gas) is projected to be $120 billion in 2025 and grow 5-10 % per year. Use of coal, oil, and gas contribute 120 million tons (Mt) of methane emission into the atmosphere each year. The United States is the largest emitter of methane (>10%) and closely followed by the Russian Federation. In terms of contribution to the greenhouse gas inventory (excluding water vapor) methane is second, between carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide, and accounts for about 1/3 of the recent increase in Earth's surface temperature. The atmospheric concentration of methane is increasing faster than at any time since record keeping began in the 1980s, but its savior is a mean atmospheric lifetime of about ten years. Methane won’t disappear from the market anytime soon, but control of emission is a near-term opportunity to mitigate Earth’s atmospheric warming and climate change. This symposium includes methane sources and sinks, measurement, control, and use technology, climate modeling, regulatory impacts, and market supply and demand. Aligned with U.N. Sustainable Development Goals 7, Affordable and Clean Energy and 13, Climate Action.
https://www.acs.org

Pacifichem 2025
Honolulu, December 15-20
Approaching Steady-State Atmospheric Methane in the Anthropocene
The current atmospheric concentration of methane is approaching 2.00 ppm and increasing faster than at any time since record keeping began in the 1980s. Approximately 1/3 of Earth’s post-industrial revolution climate change can be ascribed to methane. Natural gas (methane) and liquified natural gas (LNG) are useful fuels and chemical feedstocks and easily transported via an established infrastructure. The 2025 market value of methane and LNG is projected to be US$120B and grow 5-10% per year. Use of coal, oil, and gas contribute 120 million tons (Mt) of methane emission into the atmosphere each year. Methane’s savior is its mean atmospheric lifetime, ~10 years, and can provide a near-term opportunity to mitigate rapid climate change. Human activity contributes to the imbalance between methane natural sources and sinks. This symposium includes methane sources and sinks, measurement, control, and use technology, climate modeling, regulatory impacts, and market supply and demand. Aligned with U.N. Sustainable Development Goals 7, Affordable and Clean Energy and 13, Climate Action.
https://pacifichem.org