Richard C. Pleus, Ph.D., M.S.
Founder, CEO, Chief Toxicologist
RICHARD C. PLEUS, Ph.D., heads Intertox Inc., the scientific research and consulting company he founded in 1995. Within Intertox, he brings deep knowledge of toxicology to assist in protecting public health. To date, he has performed more than 600 toxicological assessments and has analyzed the impact of hundreds of chemicals on human health for aviation and space travel, medicine, medical products, consumer products, air, soil, water, food and waste.
Dr. Pleus has particular experience and expertise in:
- Aerospace, reproductive and endocrinological toxicology and neuro- and neurodevelopmental toxicology.
- Determining effects of chemicals on the human body, including chemical warfare agents, metals, nanomaterials, pharmaceuticals, chlorinated hydrocarbons, pesticides, volatile and non-volatile organic compounds and mycotoxins.
- He is known for his ability to synthesize complex scientific information and to present accessibly for diverse audiences.
- Developing Environmental Health and Safety compliance processes for workplaces and industries.
- Developing and implementing experimental study designs for product-based health research.
- Conducting toxicological assessments for residents residing near industrial facilities.
- Conducting toxicological product and workplace safety assessments.
- Discussing science and presenting to state, federal and foreign governmental agencies.
- Communicating toxicological risks.
- Serving as expert witness for attorneys representing both plaintiff and defense cases or as a consulting expert on toxicology and pharmacology in litigation.
Expertise
Dr. Pleus has conducted extensive scientific research at Intertox as an individual and with his global network of colleagues. He has won 6 grants for research in the last 10 years, published numerous peer-reviewed articles and written and edited books and chapters on diverse subjects in toxicology and nanotechnology. He has served as a U.S. delegate for national and international scientific conferences, including the U.S.-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission on Science and Technology. His consistent presentation of scientific information in clear, layman’s terms, has made him a sought-after expert and presenter for businesses, trade organizations, and universities across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East.
Education
Dr. Pleus earned a Ph.D. in environmental toxicology from the University of Minnesota, where he had earlier completed his Masters of Science in environmental public health. Dr. Pleus’ undergraduate work was at Michigan State University, where he graduated with honors in physiology. He conducted his post-doctoral training in neuropharmacology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
Pro Bono Work
Dr. Pleus currently leads the U.S. delegation for Environmental Health and Safety (Working Group 3) to the International Organization for Standardization (ICO) Technical Committee (TC) 229’s.
Dr. Pleus provides scientific expertise on a matter for the Innocence Project Northwest; University of Washington School of Law.
Gretchen M. Bruce, DABT
Director of Toxicology
GRETCHEN M. BRUCE, DABT, is Director of Toxicology at Intertox, where she began in 1999. She has over 32 years of experience in conducting toxicological risk assessments in a variety of settings. These include human health impact analyses, regulatory compliance assessments, and workplace exposure hazard assessments. Her expertise in data analysis and modeling allows her to conduct these assessments with unique skill.
Ms. Bruce has particular experience in:
- Developing risk assessment models and data analyses for a broad range of human health risks in industrial facilities and workplace environments;
- Conducting toxicological evaluations to support extractable/leachable chemicals (E&T) assessment, including developing analytical evaluation thresholds (AETs);
- Conducting risk assessments to consumers of allegedly biologically and chemically contaminated air, water, food, and soil;
- Evaluating human health impacts from chemicals in pharmaceutical medical devices, consumer products, water, and the environment;
- Developing acceptable dose levels and human health impacts for pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disrupters in water;
- Providing scientific litigation support;
- Assessing compliance with toxicity standards in accordance with federal CERCLA, RCRA, TSCA, state (e.g. Prop. 65), and local regulations.
Expertise
Ms. Bruce has particular expertise in developing and implementing data analysis methods and risk assessments. She is well-versed in the process of litigation, and provides expert toxicological analyses to support legal cases. Ms. Bruce’s expertise allows her to assist clients in maintaining compliance with local, state, and federal toxicological regulations.
Education
Ms. Bruce earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Toxicology from the University of California at Davis and is a certified Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT).
Lisa M. Corey, PhD, DABT
Senior Toxicologist
LISA M. COREY, PhD, DABT, joined Intertox in 2004, and currently works as a senior toxicologist. She has studied the effects of chemicals that may pose a threat to human health for more than 18 years. Her knowledge of human health risks in air, water, and the workplace enables her to have a significant impact in all areas of environmental health and human toxicology.
Dr. Corey has particular experience in:
- Evaluating the health risks of metals, halogenated compounds, organophosphates, pesticides, solvents, and nanomaterials;
- Evaluating risk with special consideration towards sensitive populations;
- Conducting product assessments for chemical compounds;
- Preparing labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for industrial chemicals in accordance with OSHA guidelines;
- Ensuring compliance with governmental toxicity regulations including REACH, EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL), and State of California standards;
- Developing company-wide hazard/safety plans to manage human health risks to a broad range of chemicals;
- Providing litigation support and expert testimony for cases involving human health risk and exposures to hazardous chemicals.
Expertise
Dr. Corey is adept at evaluating human health risks from exposure to chemical and biological agents in air, water, soil, and food. She has provided scientific comments and Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of perchlorates in water in accordance with California Public Health Goal (PHG) criteria. She has also conducted assessments of jet engine oil and hydraulic fluid in aircraft cabin air. Dr. Corey’s extensive knowledge of human health risks from chemicals allows her to promote her clients’ compliance with local, state, federal, and international Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) regulations, provide litigation support as either a consultant or an expert witness, and develop new toxicological assessments for measuring chemical impacts on human health.
Education
Dr. Corey earned her PhD in Environmental Toxicology from the University of Washington, where she also earned her Master of Science in Environmental Toxicology. She conducted her undergraduate studies in biology at the University of Washington. Dr. Corey is also certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT).
Heather Klintworth, PhD
Senior Toxicologist
HEATHER M KLINTWORTH, PhD, joined Intertox in January 2013 and worked as a staff scientist until November 2015. She then continued working for Intertox on as an on-demand contract employee while she took time to raise her two daughters. She rejoined Intertox on a full-time basis in October 2021.
Dr. Klintworth has particular experience in:
- Conducting human and ecological risk assessments for a variety of chemicals, including pesticides, bacterial agents, and pharmaceutical and personal care products;
- Providing litigation support for cases involving human health risk and exposures to hazardous chemicals by conducting toxicological literature searches and drafting technical reports;
- Deriving acceptable intake levels of possible contaminants in consumer and medical products;
- Preparing labels and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for industrial chemicals in accordance with OSHA guidelines
Expertise
Dr. Klintworth’s work at Intertox has involved providing scientific support regarding the regulation of chemical and bacterial agents in air, water, soil and food. Examples of her work include completing a multipathway human and ecological risk assessment for roadside herbicides for the Washington Department of Transportation, preparing and submitting GRAS and Letter of No Objection applications to FDA and Health Canada for bacterial agents used in food processing, and developing drinking water fact sheets for hard water, iron, silica, and manganese for the city of Longview, WA.
Education
Dr. Klintworth earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Toxicology at the University of Washington, where she also earned her Master of Science in Environmental Toxicology. She conducted her undergraduate work in Cell and Molecular Biology and Zoology at the University of Washington. Dr. Klintworth completed postdoctoral research at the Benaroya Research Institute.
Gavin Bell
Scientist
GAVIN BELL began his work at Intertox, Inc. in 2011. With a background in mathematics, his work at Intertox spans areas from litigation support to product safety. His work includes assisting with risk assessments and researching health effects resulting from chemical exposures.
Mr. Bell has particular proficiency in:
- Workers’ compensation claims
- Evaluating human health impacts from chemicals in water, products and the environment;
- Development, conduct, and analysis of complex air sampling and analysis for product safety
Expertise
Mr. Bell has significant experience in litigation support of workers’ compensation claims, litigation support related to cabin air safety, development of sampling and analysis plans, sampling and analysis of fabrics used in clothing, product stewardship, and regulatory publishing.
Education
Mr. Bell earned his Bachelors degree from Reed College in Portland, Oregon.
Cameron Bellamoroso
Scientist
CAMERON BELLAMOROSO’S joined Intertox in June of 2021. Prior to joining Intertox, he worked as a writer, editor, and peer-reviewer for academic and technical publications. His training includes economic and econometric analysis.
Expertise
Mr. Bellamoroso has particular proficiency in:
- Preparing, reviewing, and executing sampling plans to assess environmental exposures
- Processing, formatting, and visually presenting data to make results clear and accessible
- Designing training courses and risk communication programs for workers or public audiences
- Analyzing data to determine probable exposure levels as part of human health risk assessments, particularly in food and consumption
- Reviewing, editing, and formatting reports and documents for legal, academic, and corporate applications
Mr. Bellamoroso has formal training and experience with data collection, large-scale database construction and inquiry, survey-design, data cleaning, QC, and statistical analysis. He codes in R, STATA, is familiar with common data-mapping tools, and is skilled at writing and editing scientific materials for both academic publications and legal documents. He also has experience conducting both air and water sample collections to measure potential environmental exposures. Mr. Bellamoroso is particularly interested in understanding health behaviors and finding new ways to communicate health-research to affected populations.
Education
Mr. Bellamoroso earned his bachelor’s degrees with honors in both economics and Spanish at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, CA.
Kelli R. Hackney
Scientist
Kelli R. Hackney joined Intertox in January 2022 as a staff scientist. Prior to joining Intertox, Ms. Hackney worked as a staff scientist for a small toxicology firm based in western Washington.
Ms. Hackney has particular experience in:
- Conducting human and ecological risk assessments for multiple exposure pathways, including surface water, groundwater, air, odor, noise, and vibration;
- Conducting toxicological literature searches and drafting technical reports;
- Deriving acceptable intake levels of possible air- or waterborne contaminants;
- Analyzing and modelling complex data;
- Distilling complex data into easy-to-understand visualizations.
Expertise
Ms. Hackney’s work at Intertox has involved providing scientific support regarding potential environmental and human health impacts of landfill wastes to nearby communities and ecosystems. Ms. Hackney is also involved in a project to update research concerning the continuing ecological effects of deepwater ocean dumping of DDT wastes in the Southern California Bight. She has also developed numerous technical documents for agencies such as Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Willamette River Keepers.
Education
Ms. Hackney earned her B.S. in Environmental Science, graduating summa cum laude from Portland State University in 2021.
Michael C. Maloney, RAC
Senior Advisor, Regulatory Affairs
MICHAEL C. MALONEY, RAC, works with Intertox clients who need to gain Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for drugs and medical devices. Mr. Maloney has helped medical device and drug companies bring products to market for more than 30 years. He has regularly provided hands-on management of companies in these fields. Both as a consultant and as an employee, he has led new product development step-by-step from approval process to launch.
Mr. Maloney has particular experience in:
- Developing consultancy programs for medical device companies seeking to establish regulatory compliance;
- Crafting and overseeing national and international product regulatory dossiers;
- Submitting dossiers in compliance with electronic Common Technical Document (eCTD) specifications;
- Directing successful negotiations with FDA (CDRH, CDER, CBER);
- Managing nonclinical safety and biological activity programs;
- Overseeing clinical investigations to establish safety, proof-of-concept, and efficacy;
- Negotiating with regulators over product classification, labeling, advertising, and promotional materials;
- Managing prior approval supplements for CMC;
- Acting as regulatory liaison in cases involving 510(k), PMA, NDA and BLA approvals.
Expertise
Mr. Maloney has an extensive experience as a regulatory affairs subject matter expert. He co-founded the Novent Group in 1991, providing regulatory consultation for a broad range of medical products leading to numerous marketing authorization successes. He has also provided regulatory consultation as the president of LaHaye Laboratories (1996-2001) and the Head of Regulatory Affairs at ZymoGenetics (2005-2009), he shepherded numerous products to FDA approval, including the clotting solution Recothrom. As an expert in regulatory affairs, Mr. Maloney serves as a liaison on major cases, working with clients to create strategies to win regulatory approval, craft the appropriate dossiers for submittal to regulators, negotiate with regulators, and maintain post-approval commitments to ensure continued regulatory compliance.
Education
Mr. Maloney earned a degree in Biological Sciences from San Jose State University. He holds Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC) through the Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, which is the only certification in this field recognized worldwide.