Overview
Background
Professor Kevin Thomas is an internationally recognised environmental health scientist whose research over three decades has focused on a fundamental challenge: how can we identify, measure and understand the environmental exposures that matter for human and ecosystem health?
His research has pioneered new approaches to measuring environmental exposure, from environmental contaminants and complex mixtures to wastewater-based epidemiology, plastics and human health. He pioneered wastewater-based epidemiology as a population-level approach to monitoring community health and behaviour, and has advanced the measurement of micro- and nanoplastics, plastic-associated chemicals, PFAS and other contaminants of emerging concern.
A central focus of his research is making previously invisible exposures measurable. He combines high-resolution mass spectrometry, non-target analysis and advanced approaches to chemical and polymer characterisation to identify and quantify known and previously unrecognised exposures across environmental, population and human matrices.
His current research focuses on the human chemical and particulate exposome—integrating measurements of chemicals, plastics and other environmental stressors with exposure and health data to understand how complex mixtures of environmental exposures affect human health.
Professor Thomas is Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) at The University of Queensland and Director of the Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health. He is also Deputy Director and Queensland Node Leader of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (HyTech), and is affiliated with the ARC Training Centre for Bioplastics and Biocomposites and the Centre for Marine Science.
His research programme spans four interconnected areas:
Plastics and human health. Developing analytical approaches to identify and quantify micro- and nanoplastics and associated chemicals in environmental and human matrices, and to understand human exposure and potential health effects.
Emerging contaminants and exposomics. Developing high-resolution mass spectrometric and non-target approaches to identify known and previously unknown chemical exposures, including PFAS and other persistent and mobile contaminants.
Wastewater-based epidemiology. Using wastewater as a population-level biological sample to monitor community health, drug and tobacco use, emerging chemical threats and other indicators of population behaviour and health.
Antimicrobial resistance and environmental health. Identifying chemical and biological drivers of antimicrobial resistance in environmental mixtures, and developing approaches to understand their sources, exposure pathways and risks.
Professor Thomas has authored more than 400 pper-reviewed publications and has supervised researchers across environmental chemistry, analytical science, wastewater epidemiology, plastics and human exposure. His research brings together analytical science, environmental health and population-level measurement, with extensive collaboration across government, industry and international research organisations.
Across his research, a consistent focus has been making previously invisible environmental exposures measurable. This has taken his work from known contaminants to complex mixtures, population-level measurements and, increasingly, the chemical and particulate exposome of humans.
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
Critical review of analytical methods for antifouling paint particles in marine systems
De-la-Torre, Gabriel E., Okoffo, Elvis D., Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2026). Critical review of analytical methods for antifouling paint particles in marine systems. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 198 118734, 118734. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2026.118734
2026
Journal Article
A critical review of micro- and nanoplastic permeation in the human body
Pan, Yufei, Janjua, Taskeen Iqbal, Thomas, Kevin V., Shepherd, Claire E. and Rauert, Cassandra (2026). A critical review of micro- and nanoplastic permeation in the human body. Microplastics and Nanoplastics, 6 (1) 21, 1-27. doi: 10.1186/s43591-026-00177-6
2026
Journal Article
Nanoplastic and microplastic contamination in Australian carbonated beverages: measurement by Pyrolysis-GC-MS and the challenge of poly(ethylene terephthalate) oligomer interference
Jeffries, Coral, Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2026). Nanoplastic and microplastic contamination in Australian carbonated beverages: measurement by Pyrolysis-GC-MS and the challenge of poly(ethylene terephthalate) oligomer interference. Journal of Hazardous Materials: Plastics, 2 100035, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.hazmp.2025.100035
2026
Journal Article
Communicating confidence in the reliability of micro- and nanoplastic identification in human health studies
Thomas, Kevin V., Belz, Susanne, Booth, Andy M., Clift, Martin J. D., Cross, Richard K., Davies, Grace, Dirven, Hubert, Dunlop, Sarah, Gomiero, Alessio, Guo, Shaowei, Herzke, Dorte, Koelmans, Albert A., Mudway, Ian S., Okoffo, Elvis D., Rauert, Cassandra, Samanipour, Saer, Symeonides, Christos, Walker, Douglas I., Wang, Tingting, Wright, Stephanie L., Xu, Jun-Li and Barron, Leon P. (2026). Communicating confidence in the reliability of micro- and nanoplastic identification in human health studies. Environment and Health, 4 (5), 804-811. doi: 10.1021/envhealth.5c00671
2026
Journal Article
Comment on “Polyethylene and Polyvinyl Chloride Nanoplastics in Human Follicular Fluid and Seminal Plasma: Impact on Fertilization and Sperm Quality”
Thomas, Kevin V., Davies, Grace, Okoffo, Elvis, Wright, Stephanie and Rauert, Cassandra (2026). Comment on “Polyethylene and Polyvinyl Chloride Nanoplastics in Human Follicular Fluid and Seminal Plasma: Impact on Fertilization and Sperm Quality”. ACS Nano, 20 (1), 1-2. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.5c13836
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, 114680-271. doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2025.114680
2025
Journal Article
Impact of tyre wear particles and tyre leachate on the freshwater angiosperm Lemna minor
Pan, Yufei, Rauert, Cassie, Schmidt, Susanne and Thomas, Kevin (2025). Impact of tyre wear particles and tyre leachate on the freshwater angiosperm Lemna minor. Environmental Chemistry, 22 (8) EN25061, 1-17. doi: 10.1071/en25061
2025
Journal Article
Cannabis consumption in Australia 2018–2025: Socio‐economic and regional trends from wastewater and survey data
Verhagen, Rory, Gerber, Cobus, Thai, Phong, Bade, Richard, O'Brien, Jake, Keller, Emma L., Simpson, Bradley S., Hall, Wayne, Leung, Janni, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Tscharke, Benjamin J. (2025). Cannabis consumption in Australia 2018–2025: Socio‐economic and regional trends from wastewater and survey data. Addiction, 121 (4) add.70277, 861-869. doi: 10.1111/add.70277
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
Release of nanoplastic from polypropylene kettles
Shi, Ke, Okoffo, Elvis D., Fu, Hongrui, Bapp, Carolin, Jiang, Jie, Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Release of nanoplastic from polypropylene kettles. npj Emerging Contaminants, 1 (1) 16, 1-12. doi: 10.1038/s44454-025-00018-w
2025
Journal Article
Discovery of previously unreported per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pooled Australian human serum using nontarget analysis
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Nilsson, Sandra, Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, O’Brien, Jake W., Bräunig, Jennifer, José Gómez Ramos, María, Samanipour, Saer, Martin, Jonathan W., Toms, Leisa-Maree L., Mueller, Jochen F., Kaserzon, Sarit L. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2025). Discovery of previously unreported per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pooled Australian human serum using nontarget analysis. Environmental Science and Technology, 59 (48), 26081-26091. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c04623
2025
Journal Article
Environmental antimicrobial resistance: current status and future prospects
Thomas, Kevin V., Zhai, Naixiang, Li, Jinglong and O’Brien, Jake W. (2025). Environmental antimicrobial resistance: current status and future prospects. Environmental Contamination: Causes and Solutions, 1 (1). doi: 10.53941/eccs.2025.100006
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, 59 (43) acs.est.5c07274, 23339-23348. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5c07274
2025
Journal Article
Uptake of artificial sweeteners in wheat (Triticum aestivum 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), 26564-26573. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.5c06683
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
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, 38 (1) e02427, e02427. doi: 10.1002/adma.202502427
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
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, 1-13. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-099330
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
-
Available projects for prospective PhD students
Projects are available around four broad themes.
- Identifying chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance.
- 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
Cross regional comparison of emerging contaminants in urban catchments
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing microplastic inputs from ships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
PM2.5 and plastics pollution in Delhi: Sources, characterization and atmospheric transport modeling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and accumulation of plastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Ubiquitous Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non-Targeted High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Highly Mobile and Highly Persistent Chemicals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert, Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Road to Contamination: Understanding the Environmental Distribution of Tyre Wear Particles and Tyre Associated Chemicals in Australian Urban Environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides and methods to reduce exposure
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Professor Bhagirath Chauhan, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
AMR in food producing environments (Ref: 5529)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
DETERMINATION OF MICRO AND NANOPLASTICS IN BREAST MILK, BLOOD AND MECONIUM SAMPLES FROM MOTHERS-INFANTS IN AUSTRALIA
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
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 Cassandra Rauert
-
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
Development of Specialised Hyphenated Methodologies for Quantifying New Halogenated Plastic Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating dietary exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastic Pollution in Water Systems: Issues and Treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jianhua Guo
-
2025
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 Cassandra Rauert
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotics and other chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
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 plastic contamination in marine organisms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Fate and behaviour of neonicotinoids in Australian aquatic environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
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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