Environmental Scientist and Expert Witness
Paul E. Rosenfeld, M.S., Ph.D.
Founder and Principal Scientist | Environmental Chemist | Expert Witness
More than 26 years of experience
- Testified in state and federal matters across more than 30 states
- Former UCLA faculty member with approximately 10 years of teaching and research experience
- Former SWAPE co-founder and principal with 22 years of experience
- Former U.S. Navy BRAC Remedial Project Manager
- Author or co-author of six books and more than 60 scientific publications
- Specializes in epidemiology, toxicology, air-dispersion modeling, forensic dose reconstruction, exposure assessment, environmental forensics, chemical fate and transport, industrial hygiene, and human-health risk assessment
- Experience involving asbestos, artificial-stone silica, PFAS, benzene, dioxins, PCBs, diesel exhaust, industrial emissions, and contaminated soil, dust, air and water
Dr. Paul E. Rosenfeld is the Founder and Principal Scientist of RoseyFields LLC and a nationally recognized environmental expert witness. With more than 26 years of experience in environmental science, air pollution modeling, exposure assessment, and environmental forensics, he has provided scientific consulting and expert testimony in complex environmental litigation involving toxic torts, industrial contamination, occupational disease, environmental releases, transportation accidents, and hazardous materials incidents. His professional experience includes 22 years with SWAPE and 10 years at UCLA.
His practice focuses on helping courts, attorneys, corporations, and governmental agencies understand technically complex environmental issues through scientifically rigorous investigations and objective expert opinions. His work combines environmental chemistry, engineering, exposure science, atmospheric modeling, hydrogeology, industrial hygiene, toxicology, epidemiology, and risk assessment to reconstruct historical environmental conditions and evaluate potential human exposures.
Dr. Rosenfeld has investigated matters involving PFAS contamination, industrial fires and explosions, petroleum refineries, railroad derailments, hazardous materials transportation incidents, asbestos, engineered stone silica, medical sterilization facilities, chemical manufacturing, chromium plating operations, landfills, hazardous waste sites, groundwater contamination, drinking water contamination, petroleum releases, wood-treatment facilities, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), diesel particulate matter, dioxins and furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), ethylene oxide, heavy metals, pesticides, and numerous other environmental contaminants. His representative investigations are featured throughout the RoseyFields case study library.
A significant portion of Dr. Rosenfeld’s practice involves reconstructing historical emissions and environmental exposures using EPA-approved air dispersion models (including AERMOD), emissions inventories, environmental sampling, contaminant fate and transport analyses, historical document review, exposure assessment, dose reconstruction, statistical evaluation, and human health risk assessment. He routinely integrates multiple independent lines of scientific evidence to develop technically defensible opinions regarding source attribution, environmental migration, exposure pathways, and potential health impacts.
Dr. Rosenfeld earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Master of Science in Environmental Science from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Ph.D. in Soil Chemistry from the University of Washington. He subsequently spent nearly a decade teaching environmental science, environmental chemistry, exposure assessment, and public health at UCLA’s Environmental Science & Engineering Program and the UCLA School of Public Health.
Before founding RoseyFields LLC, Dr. Rosenfeld served as a Remedial Project Manager for the U.S. Navy’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Program, directing investigations involving asbestos, petroleum hydrocarbons, hazardous waste, metals, and chlorinated solvents. That field experience established the practical foundation for a career devoted to applying sound science to complex environmental litigation.
Dr. Rosenfeld is also an accomplished author and researcher whose work has helped advance the fields of environmental chemistry, environmental forensics, exposure science, odor science, contaminant fate and transport, and human health risk assessment. He has authored or co-authored six books, including:
- The Risks of Hazardous Waste
- Responsible Care
- Toxic Legacy: Synthetic Toxins in the Food, Water, and Air in American Cities
- Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Petroleum Industry
- Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Wood and Paper Industries
- Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Agrochemical Industry
In addition to these books, he has authored or co-authored dozens of scientific publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, book chapters, conference proceedings, and invited presentations on subjects such as PFAS, refinery emissions, firefighter exposures, Camp Lejeune drinking water contamination, diesel exhaust, dioxins, groundwater contamination, odor science, biosolids, environmental remediation, environmental chemistry, and exposure assessment. His research has appeared in journals such as Environmental Research, Environmental Health, Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, Water Environment Research, Water Science & Technology, and the Journal of Environmental Quality.
Dr. Rosenfeld has provided deposition and trial testimony in state and federal courts throughout the United States. Courts have repeatedly qualified him as an expert under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the Daubert standard in environmental forensics, air dispersion modeling, exposure assessment, human health risk assessment, historical dose reconstruction, contaminant fate and transport, and source attribution. Courts have also recognized his application of accepted EPA methodologies, including AERMOD, EPA Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS), ProUCL statistical analyses, and multiple-lines-of-evidence evaluations.
Today, Dr. Rosenfeld continues to assist attorneys, corporations, governmental agencies, and municipalities nationwide by providing objective, scientifically rigorous expert opinions in complex environmental disputes. His multidisciplinary approach integrates environmental chemistry, engineering, atmospheric science, hydrogeology, toxicology, epidemiology, industrial hygiene, and risk assessment to explain challenging scientific issues in a clear, understandable, and technically defensible manner.
Experience
Dr. Rosenfeld has prepared risk evaluations and expert testimony involving a wide range of contaminants, including:
- ZAsbestos, Talc, & Silica
- Z Diesel particulate matter
- Z Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Z Chlorinated solvents (e.g., TCE, PCE, vinyl chloride)
- ZPerfluorinated compounds (e.g., PFOA, PFOS, GenX, AFFF)
- ZPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
- ZPAHs, dioxins, furans
- ZPesticides, formaldehyde, benzene, silica, mold, and bacteria
- Z Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, chromium VI)
- ZRadionuclides
He continues to support public and private sector clients in evaluating health risks from air, water, and soil contamination and provides expert witness services in environmental litigation across the U.S. Resume Available Upon Request.
Books
Each title reflects a focus on applying sound science to real-world environmental and public health questions.
Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Wood and Paper Industries
by Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff and Paul E. Rosenfeld
Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Agrochemical Industry
by Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff and Paul E. Rosenfeld
The Risks of Hazardous Waste
by Paul E. Rosenfeld and Lydia Feng
Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Agrochemical Industry
by Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff and Paul E. Rosenfeld
Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Agrochemical Industry
by Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff and Paul E. Rosenfeld
Handbook of Pollution Prevention and Cleaner Production: Best Practices in the Agrochemical Industry
by Nicholas P. Cheremisinoff and Paul E. Rosenfeld
Select Publications
Dr. Rosenfeld has authored and coauthored peer-reviewed articles, technical papers, and scientific publications focused on environmental exposure, air quality modeling, and human health risk. These works contribute to the scientific foundation underlying his litigation and regulatory analyses.
Each publication below is available for download:
Paul E. Rosenfeld, et al., 2023. Camp Lejeune Marine Cancer Risk Assessment for Exposure to Contaminated Drinking Water From 1955 to 1987. Springer Nature Switzerland AG (2024), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-023-06863-y.
Paul E. Rosenfeld, et al., 2023. Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure in firefighters: Sources and implications. Environmental Research 220 (2023), homepage: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.115164.
Paul E. Rosenfeld, et al., 2022. Cancer Risk and Diesel Exhaust Exposure Among Railroad Workers. The Author(s) (2022), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-022-05651-4.
Linda L. Remy, et al., 2019. Hospital, health, and community burden after oil refinery fires, Richmond, California 2007 and 2012. Environmental Health (2019), doi.org/10.1186/s12940-019-0484-4.
Robert A. Simons, et al., 2015. Modeling the Effects of Refinery Emissions on Residential Property Values. The Journal of Real Estate Research (2015), Vol. 37, No. 3, pp. 321-342.
Joyce A. Chen, et al., 2012. Sulfur Dioxide and volatile organic compound exposure to a community in Texas City, Texas evaluated using AERMOD and empirical monitoring data. American Journal of Environmental Science 2012, 8 (6), 622-632.
Jorge Gonzalez, et al., 2010. PCBs and dioxins/furans in attic dust collected near former PCB production and secondary copper facilities in Sauget, IL. Urban Environmental Pollution 2010, Procedia Environmental Sciences 4 (2011), 113–125.
Suffet, I.H. and P. Rosenfeld, 2007. The anatomy of odour wheels for odours of drinking water, wastewater, compost and the urban environment. Water Science & Technology, Volume 55, Number 5, pp. 335-344
Lydia Feng, et al. Dioxin furan blood lipid and attic dust concentrations in populations living near four wood treatment facilities in the United States. J Environ Health. 2011 Jan-Feb; 73(6): 34-46.
Wu, Crystal, et al., 2009. Dioxin and furan blood lipid concentrations in populations living near four wood treatment facilities in the United States. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, Vol 123, Air Pollution XVII, 319-327.
Wu, Crystal, et al., 2008. Methods for Collecting Samples for Assessing Dioxins and Other Environmental Contaminants in Attic Dust: A Review. Organohalogen Compounds, Volume 70 (2008), 527-530.
Rosenfeld, Paul, et al., 2002. Using High-Carbon Wood Ash to Control Odor at a Green Materials Composting Facility. California Integrated Waste Management Board.
Rosenfeld, Paul, et al., 2004. Measurement of Biosolids Compost Odor Emissions from a Windrows, Static Pile, and Biofilter. Water Environment Research, Volume 76, Number 4.
Independent Expert Witness Profiles
Dr. Paul E. Rosenfeld is also featured on leading legal and expert-witness directories.
Judicial Recognition of Expertise and Skills
Dr. Rosenfeld has been retained and provided deposition or trial testimony as an expert witness in state and federal courts across 31 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Dr. Rosenfeld’s exposure assessment and environmental forensics methodologies have been repeatedly upheld under Federal Rule of Evidence 702 and the Daubert standard in federal and state courts:
U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont
Austin v. Monsanto Co. — Court upheld Dr. Rosenfeld’s exposure and risk-assessment methodology, including Average Daily Dose calculations, hazard quotients, EPA default assumptions, and statistically supported upper confidence limits (UCLs), finding the approach scientifically reliable and admissible.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
Cannon v. BP Products North America, Inc. — Court relied on Dr. Rosenfeld’s AERMOD-based air-dispersion modeling to delineate geographic exposure zones from refinery emissions and accepted his plume modeling and exposure methodology as scientifically reliable.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama
Brantley v. International Paper Co. — Court denied Defendant’s motion to exclude Dr. Rosenfeld’s reports, opinions, and testimony, finding his exposure-assessment methodology reliable and properly applied.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
McCarty v. Oklahoma City Landfill, LLC — Court denied Defendant’s motion to exclude portions of Dr. Rosenfeld’s report, finding his risk-assessment methodology adequately supported.
New York Supreme Court, Erie County
Hathaway v. Avon Products, Inc. — Court relied on Dr. Rosenfeld’s opinion in reaching its ruling, reflecting confidence in the reliability of his exposure-assessment methodology.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas
Brasel v. Weyerhaeuser Co. — Court denied Defendant’s motion to exclude, finding Dr. Rosenfeld qualified and his exposure-assessment methodology reliable.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
Cooper v. Meritor, Inc. — Defendant’s motion to strike was resolved as moot without reaching the merits, leaving Dr. Rosenfeld’s exposure-assessment methodology undisturbed in the record.
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Shell Oil Co. v. Parko — Defendant’s motion to exclude was denied as moot, leaving Dr. Rosenfeld’s air-dispersion modeling methodology undisturbed on appeal.
Texas County Court at Law, Dallas County
Aruba Petroleum, Inc. v. Parr — Court admitted Dr. Rosenfeld’s testimony at trial, finding his air-dispersion modeling and exposure-assessment methodology reliable.
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida
Pavone v. American Contract Systems, Inc. — Court denied Defendant’s motion to strike, finding Dr. Rosenfeld’s air-quality modeling methodology sufficiently reliable.
Court of Appeals of Texas, Eastland (11th District)
Cox v. Helena Chemical Co. — Appellate court reversed the trial court’s exclusion of Dr. Rosenfeld’s testimony, finding his exposure and causation methodology should not have been excluded.
Superior Court of California, Alameda County
Global Community Monitor v. Lumber Liquidators, Inc. — Court overruled Defendant’s objection to Dr. Rosenfeld’s testimony, finding his air-quality and exposure-assessment methodology reliable.
U.S. District Courts for the Western District of Wisconsin and Western District of Louisiana
Ackel v. CITGO Petroleum Corp. — Court denied Defendant’s motion to strike, finding Dr. Rosenfeld’s environmental-forensics and exposure-assessment methodology reliable.
Superior Court of Arizona, Maricopa County
Tryon v. City of Phoenix — Court denied Defendant’s motion to preclude, finding Dr. Rosenfeld’s air-dispersion and exposure-assessment methodology reliable under Arizona’s expert-admissibility standard.
Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court, Broward County, Florida
Hinton v. City of Fort Lauderdale — Court denied a Daubert motion and found Dr. Rosenfeld qualified in air modeling, environmental contamination, fate and transport, and exposure assessment.
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court, Miami-Dade County, Florida
Styles v. City of Miami (2025) — During Daubert proceedings involving dioxin and arsenic contamination from a municipal incinerator, the court permitted extensive testimony regarding Dr. Rosenfeld’s EPA-based methodology, including RAGS risk equations, ProUCL statistical methods, and multi-consultant environmental datasets, overruling foundational objections and allowing the testimony to proceed.
U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska
Gillett v. BNSF Railway Co. — Court found Dr. Rosenfeld qualified to offer opinions on historical diesel-exhaust exposure, environmental forensics, source attribution, and dose reconstruction, concluding his methodology was grounded in reliable scientific principles.
U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Gonzales v. BNSF Railway Co. — Court admitted testimony based on EPA-based exposure modeling, integration of published emission factors, activity-pattern reconstruction, and cumulative-dose calculations supported by sufficient facts and data.
Court of Appeals of Texas
Faust v. BNSF Railway Co. — Appellate court held the trial court properly exercised its gatekeeping function in permitting Dr. Rosenfeld’s historical dose-reconstruction testimony, finding the methodology relevant and scientifically reliable.
Court of Appeals of Texas
Abeyta v. BNSF Railway Co. — Appellate court affirmed the trial court’s admission of Dr. Rosenfeld’s testimony regarding creosote-exposure pathways, finding the historical dose-reconstruction methodology properly grounded in reliable scientific principles.
Superior Court of California, Kern County
LaFazia v. BNSF Railway Co. — Court overruled Defendant’s objection to Dr. Rosenfeld’s declaration, finding his historical dose-reconstruction methodology adequately supported.
California Superior Court, Contra Costa County
Morrison v. BNSF Railway Co. — Court overruled Defendant’s objection to Dr. Rosenfeld’s declaration, finding his historical dose-reconstruction methodology reliable.
California Superior Court, San Bernardino County
Wildrick v. BNSF Railway Co. — Court overruled Defendant’s objections to Dr. Rosenfeld’s declaration, finding his historical dose-reconstruction methodology reliable and well-supported.
California Superior Court, San Bernardino County
Gabaldon v. BNSF Railway Co. — Court overruled Defendant’s objection to Dr. Rosenfeld’s declaration, finding his historical dose-reconstruction methodology reliable.
California Superior Court
Rodriguez v. Union Pacific Railroad Co. — Court overruled Defendant’s objection to Dr. Rosenfeld’s declaration, finding his historical dose-reconstruction methodology reliable.
Circuit Court of Virginia for the County of Norfolk
Redford v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co. — Court denied Defendant’s motion to strike and, in post-trial proceedings, found Dr. Rosenfeld had sufficient qualifications to support the jury’s verdict based on his historical dose-reconstruction methodology.
Florida Fifth District Court of Appeal
Lewis v. Norfolk Southern Railway Co. — Appellate court affirmed admissibility of Dr. Rosenfeld’s environmental exposure methodology under Daubert.
Ohio Court of Common Pleas, Cuyahoga County
Schleich v. Penn Central Corp. — Defendant’s Daubert motion to exclude was denied as moot without reaching the merits, leaving Dr. Rosenfeld’s historical dose-reconstruction methodology undisturbed in the record.
Collectively, these rulings reflect a consistent judicial consensus that Dr. Rosenfeld is qualified across multiple technical domains—including air dispersion modeling, environmental forensics, exposure reconstruction, and human-health risk assessment—and that his methodologies are reliable, scientifically grounded, and helpful to the trier of fact.