Overview
Background
Professor Kevin Thomas is Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS). Kevin is an environmental health scientist with a particular interest in understanding the environmental exposures associated with contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) with the goal of protecting environmental and human health. Kevin also leads the Minderoo Centre- Plastics and Human Health at UQ and is Deputy-Director of the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (HyTech).
His current research is focused on understanding human exposure to plastics pollution and developing mass spectrometric analytical methods for characterizing plastics and other CECs, assessing community-wide health status through analysing wastewater (wastewater-based epidemiology) and establishing alternative approaches to exposure monitoring, for example explanted silicone prostheses and wristbands.
Author of over 300 peer-reviewed papers and Associate Editor for the journal Science of the Total Environment, Kevin is a strong collaborative researcher having founded the international SCORE network on sewer biomarker analysis for community health assessment (see www.score-network.eu) and together with colleagues has recently launched InSpectra- A platform for identifying emerging chemical threats.
Availability
- Professor Kevin Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Plymouth University
- Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), Plymouth University
Works
Search Professor Kevin Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace
2026
Journal Article
Evaluating environmental health communication: the readability of factsheets about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Magi-Prowse, Carla R., Fielding, Kelly S., Thomas, Kevin V. and Morphett, Kylie (2026). Evaluating environmental health communication: the readability of factsheets about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 271 114680. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114680
2025
Journal Article
Evaluating the influence of polystyrene standards on quantification in environmental samples
Chen, Honglin, Thomas, Kevin V. and Rauert, Cassandra (2025). Evaluating the influence of polystyrene standards on quantification in environmental samples. Microplastics and Nanoplastics, 5 (1) 29, 1. doi: 10.1186/s43591-025-00135-8
2025
Journal Article
Micro- and nanoplastic-induced respiratory disease and dysfunction: a scoping review
Goldsworthy, Adrian, O’Callaghan, Liam A., Tronstad, Oystein, Suen, Jacky, Chen, Honglin, Rauert, Cassandra, Blum, Ciara B., Tajouri, Lotti, Olsen, Matthew, Thomas, Kevin V. and Fraser, John F. (2025). Micro- and nanoplastic-induced respiratory disease and dysfunction: a scoping review. Microplastics, 4 (4) 79, 1-45. doi: 10.3390/microplastics4040079
2025
Journal Article
Machine learning for predicting environmental mobility based on retention behavior
Hulleman, Tobias, Samanipour, Saer, Haddad, Paul R., Rauert, Cassandra, Okoffo, Elvis D., Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2025). Machine learning for predicting environmental mobility based on retention behavior. Environmental Science and Technology acs.est.5c07274. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c07274
2025
Journal Article
Release of nanoplastics from polypropylene food containers into hot and cold water
Shi, Ke, Okoffo, Elvis D., Lu, Wei-Cheng, Jiang, Jie, Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Release of nanoplastics from polypropylene food containers into hot and cold water. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 73 (42) acs.jafc.5c11270, 27038-27047. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c11270
2025
Journal Article
Uptake of Artificial Sweeteners in Wheat (<i>Triticum aestivum</i> L.): Subcellular Distribution and Nontarget Identification of New Metabolites
Li, Dandan, Xing, Jiamin, Du, Peng, Yao, Yiming, Xing, Yeye, Wang, Dongfang, Sun, Xiaojie, Guo, Linlin, Li, Zhiyuan, Wang, Fang and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Uptake of Artificial Sweeteners in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Subcellular Distribution and Nontarget Identification of New Metabolites. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 73 (42) acs.jafc.5c06683, 26564-26573. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06683
2025
Journal Article
Evaluating dextrorphan as a wastewater biomarker for cough suppressant use: A longitudinal study in China
Shao, Xue-Ting, Ma, Xin-Dong, Li, Jing-Long, O’Brien, Jake W., Thomas, Kevin and Wang, De-Gao (2025). Evaluating dextrorphan as a wastewater biomarker for cough suppressant use: A longitudinal study in China. Water Research, 285 124119, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2025.124119
2025
Journal Article
Non-PFAS-based magnetic polymer sorbents for efficient removal of perfluorinated compounds from landfill leachate
Tan, Xiao, Yang, Zhuojing, Chen, Zhou, Zhu, Yutong, Yu, Chunrong, Wang, Yiqing, Liu, Kehan, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Li, Xuemei, Su, Zicheng, Giansiracusa, Marcus J, Boskovic, Colette, Wang, Biao, Thomas, Kevin V. and Zhang, Cheng (2025). Non-PFAS-based magnetic polymer sorbents for efficient removal of perfluorinated compounds from landfill leachate. Advanced Materials e02427, e02427. doi: 10.1002/adma.202502427
2025
Journal Article
Randomised controlled trial of a low plastic diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial - a protocol
Lucas, Andrew, Harray, Amelia, Duong, Lelinh, Herrmann, Susan, Vlaskovsky, Philip, Trevenen, Michelle, Chan, Dick, Papendorf, Hannah, Smith, Tony, Flint, Lilith, Liu, Alex, Gaudieri, Silvana, Wang, Xianyu, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin, Murray, Kevin, Symeonides, Christos, Dunlop, Sarah, Watts, Gerald and Lucas, Michaela (2025). Randomised controlled trial of a low plastic diet and lifestyle intervention for adults with cardiometabolic risk factors: the Plastic Exposure Reduction Transforms Health (PERTH) trial - a protocol. Bmj Open, 15 (8) e099330, e099330. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099330
2025
Journal Article
Stability of Antibiotics and Their Metabolites in Sewers: Implications for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology and Antibiotic Sustainability
Li, Jinglong, Ren, Jianan, Li, Jiaying, Thai, Phong K., Cen, Xiaotong, Zhao, Zeyang, Zhai, Naixiang, Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2025). Stability of Antibiotics and Their Metabolites in Sewers: Implications for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology and Antibiotic Sustainability. Environmental Science & Technology, 59 (33) acs.est.5c04421, 17796-17810. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c04421
2025
Journal Article
Time-weighted conversion of acute to chronic equivalent endpoints for derivation of chronic ecotoxicity threshold values of six neonicotinoids in freshwater
Beggs, Carly, Sánchez-Bayo, Francisco, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2025). Time-weighted conversion of acute to chronic equivalent endpoints for derivation of chronic ecotoxicity threshold values of six neonicotinoids in freshwater. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 44 (7), 1901-1911. doi: 10.1093/etojnl/vgaf091
2025
Journal Article
Evaluation of a Low-Cost Active Air Sampler for the Surveillance of Airborne Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Using a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant as a Case Study
Zhai, Naixiang, Li, Jinglong, Klümper, Uli, Lakhey, Pooja, Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2025). Evaluation of a Low-Cost Active Air Sampler for the Surveillance of Airborne Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance Genes Using a Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant as a Case Study. ACS ES&T Engineering, 5 (9), 2260-2268. doi: 10.1021/acsestengg.5c00180
2025
Journal Article
Identifying Populations with Elevated PFAS Exposure by Targeted Serum Sample Pooling
Nilsson, Sandra, Braunig, Jennifer, Mueller, Ava, Sontag, Nis-Julius, Langguth, Daman, Kennedy, Carl, Hobson, Peter, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Toms, Leisa-Maree (2025). Identifying Populations with Elevated PFAS Exposure by Targeted Serum Sample Pooling. Exposure and Health, 17 (4) 107198, 1-12. doi: 10.1007/s12403-025-00712-5
2025
Journal Article
Release of micro- and nanosized particles from plastic articles during mechanical dishwashing
Okoffo, Elvis D., Tscharke, Ben J. and Thomas, Kevin V (2025). Release of micro- and nanosized particles from plastic articles during mechanical dishwashing. ACS ES&T Water, 5 (6), 2870-2881. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00768
2025
Journal Article
Unearthing the hidden plastic in garden compost
Kaur, Simran, Okoffo, Elvis D., Thomas, Kevin V. and Rauert, Cassandra (2025). Unearthing the hidden plastic in garden compost. Science of the Total Environment, 973 179153, 179153. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.179153
2025
Journal Article
Quantifying Nanoplastics and Microplastics in Food and Beverages Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: Challenges and Implications
Jeffries, Coral, Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Quantifying Nanoplastics and Microplastics in Food and Beverages Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry: Challenges and Implications. ACS Food Science & Technology, 5 (4), 1536-1545. doi: 10.1021/acsfoodscitech.4c01093
2025
Journal Article
Serum concentrations of PFAS across Australian States and Territories
Nilsson, Sandra, Kucharski, Nathaniel, Orr, Julia, Bräunig, Jennifer, Thompson, Kristie, Jolliet, Olivier, Langguth, Daman, Kennedy, Carl, Hobson, Peter, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Toms, Leisa-Maree (2025). Serum concentrations of PFAS across Australian States and Territories. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 265 114542, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114542
2025
Journal Article
Occurrence, removal, and risk assessment of antimicrobials and their transformation products in effluent from Australian wastewater treatment plants
Li, Jinglong, O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben J., Verhagen, Rory, He, Chang, Shimko, Katja M., Shao, Xueting, Zhai, Naixiang, Hulleman, Tobias, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Occurrence, removal, and risk assessment of antimicrobials and their transformation products in effluent from Australian wastewater treatment plants. Environmental Science and Technology, 59 (13), 6825-6838. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c00425
2025
Journal Article
Occurrence and fate of glyphosate and AMPA in wastewater treatment plants in Australia
Campbell, Garth, Tscharke, Ben J., Prasad, Pritesh, Knight, Emma R., Reeks, Tim, Jackson, Aiko, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2025). Occurrence and fate of glyphosate and AMPA in wastewater treatment plants in Australia. Science of The Total Environment, 969 178964, 178964. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178964
2025
Journal Article
Are microplastics bad for your health? More rigorous science is needed
Xu, Jun-Li, Wright, Stephanie, Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Are microplastics bad for your health? More rigorous science is needed. Nature, 639 (8054), 300-302. doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-00702-2
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Kevin Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Innovative Analytical Techniques for Detecting and Quantifying Oligomers in Environmental Matrices
Project summary: Develop and validate advanced analytical methods for the detection, identification, and quantification of oligomers in various environmental matrices.
-
Available projects for prospective PhD students
Projects are available around four broad themes.
- Assessing the environmental plastics cycle with a focus on human exposure.
- Assessing community-wide health status through wastewater-based epidemiology.
- Alternative matrices for exposure monitoring. For example explanted silicone prostheses and wristbands.
- Analytical methods for the characterization of contaminants of emerging concern (target/suspect-screening/non-target analysis).
Project specific opportunities are advertised on our centre website
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Understanding emerging contaminants and metabolomic responses in Australian seabird species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Fisher Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating degradation levels and their potential impact on the quantification of microplastics in the environment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
Doctor Philosophy
PM2.5 and plastics pollution in Delhi: Sources, characterization and atmospheric transport modeling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jianhua Guo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing microplastic inputs from ships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotics and other chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing dietary exposure to plastics and associated chemicals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastics in the air: Working towards understanding micro plastics in the atmospheric environment, the plastic exposome and human respiratory exposure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Cross regional comparison of emerging contaminants in urban catchments
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastics pollution in water systems: Issues and Treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
Doctor Philosophy
DETERMINATION OF MICRO AND NANOPLASTICS IN BREAST MILK, BLOOD AND MECONIUM SAMPLES FROM MOTHERS-INFANTS IN AUSTRALIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non-Targeted High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Highly Mobile and Highly Persistent Chemicals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassie Rauert, Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Investigation of the inflammatory response of human cells to silica dust exposure
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jianhua Guo, Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing glyphosate exposure from high use practices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Professor Bhagirath Chauhan, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation and Quantification of Nanoplastics in the Environment Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassie Rauert
-
-
Doctor Philosophy
Fate and behaviour of neonicotinoids in Australian aquatic environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert, Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging contaminants in Food Organics and Garden Organic (FOGO) materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Specialised Hyphenated Methodologies for Quantifying New Halogenated Plastic Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and accumulation of plastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing the framework for a national wastewater antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use surveillance method
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
Completed supervision
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Advancing the non-target identification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in environmental samples
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Wood, Dr Jake O'Brien, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the suitability of wastewater analysis for the detection and monitoring of performance- and image-enhancing drug use
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of analgesic consumption and the burden of treated pain in Australia using wastewater-based epidemiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of plastic contamination in marine organisms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating use of nicotine containing products and evaluating tobacco-related health risks through wastewater analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Improved monitoring of hydrophilic aquatic contaminants.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation and Implementation of Methods to increase Comprehensiveness of Non-Target Analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Innovative sampling strategies for improved wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of alcohol and tobacco consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Firefighters' exposure to potentially toxic combustion products.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Professor Jochen Mueller
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Population diet and stress estimates using wastewater based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jochen Mueller
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastic pollution: From nanoscale surface interactions to public perceptions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Kevin Thomas directly for media enquiries about:
- Aquatic pollution
- chemical pollution
- Illicit drug monitoring in wastewater
- Microplastics
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