Professor Kevin Thomas
Professor

Kevin Thomas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32443

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 350 peer-reviewed papers Kevin is a strong collaborative researcher having co-founded the Plastic Measurement Brains Trust (PMBT).

Availability

Professor Kevin Thomas is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Analytical chemistry Analytical chemistry not elsewhere classified Analytical spectrometry Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Chemical Sciences Environmental Sciences Health Sciences

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Plymouth University
  • Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), Plymouth University

Search Professor Kevin Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace

418 works between 1995 and 2026
All (418) Journal Article (372) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (11)

201 - 220 of 418 works

2019

Journal Article

Evaluating the stability of three oxidative stress biomarkers under sewer conditions and potential impact for use in wastewater-based epidemiology

O'Brien, Jake W., Choi, Phil M., Li, Jiaying, Thai, Phong K., Jiang, Guangming, Tscharke, Ben, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Evaluating the stability of three oxidative stress biomarkers under sewer conditions and potential impact for use in wastewater-based epidemiology. Water Research, 166 115068, 115068. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115068

Evaluating the stability of three oxidative stress biomarkers under sewer conditions and potential impact for use in wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Journal Article

New psychoactive substances: challenges for drug surveillance, control, and public health responses

Peacock, Amy, Bruno, Raimondo, Gisev, Natasa, Degenhardt, Louisa, Hall, Wayne, Sedefov, Roumen, White, Jason, Thomas, Kevin V, Farrell, Michael and Griffiths, Paul (2019). New psychoactive substances: challenges for drug surveillance, control, and public health responses. The Lancet, 394 (10209), 1668-1684. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32231-7

New psychoactive substances: challenges for drug surveillance, control, and public health responses

2019

Journal Article

Social, demographic, and economic correlates of food and chemical consumption measured by wastewater-based epidemiology

Choi, Phil M., Tscharke, Benjamin, Samanipour, Saer, Hall, Wayne D., Gartner, Coral E., Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2019). Social, demographic, and economic correlates of food and chemical consumption measured by wastewater-based epidemiology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116 (43), 201910242-21873. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1910242116

Social, demographic, and economic correlates of food and chemical consumption measured by wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Journal Article

Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

González-Mariño, Iria, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Alygizakis, Nikiforos A., Andrés-Costa, Maria Jesús, Bade, Richard, Barron, Leon P., Been, Frederic, Berset, Jean-Daniel, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Bodík, Igor, Brenner, Asher, Brock, Andreas L., Burgard, Daniel A., Castrignanò, Erika, Christophoridis, Christophoros E., Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Devault, Damien A., Dias, Mário J., Emke, Erik, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Fedorova, Ganna, Fytianos, Konstantinos, Gerber, Cobus, Grabic, Roman, Grüner, Stefan, Gunnar, Teemu, Hapeshi, Evroula, Heath, Ester ... Ort, Christoph (2019). Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring. Addiction, 115 (1) add.14767, 109-120. doi: 10.1111/add.14767

Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

2019

Journal Article

FTIR and Raman imaging for microplastics analysis: State of the art, challenges and prospects

Xu, Jun-Li, Thomas, Kevin V., Luo, Zisheng and Gowen, Aoife A. (2019). FTIR and Raman imaging for microplastics analysis: State of the art, challenges and prospects. TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 119 115629, 115629. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.115629

FTIR and Raman imaging for microplastics analysis: State of the art, challenges and prospects

2019

Journal Article

Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate

Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, O'Brien, Stacey, O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 5 (11), 1908-1931. doi: 10.1039/c9ew00428a

Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate

2019

Journal Article

Environmental risks associated with contaminants of legacy and emerging concern at European aquaculture areas

Aminot, Yann, Sayfritz, Stephen J., Thomas, Kevin V., Godinho, Lia, Botteon, Elena, Ferrari, Federico, Boti, Vasiliki, Albanis, Triantafyllos, Köck-Schulmeyer, Marianne, Diaz-Cruz, M. Silvia, Farré, Marinella, Barceló, Damià, Marques, António and Readman, James W. (2019). Environmental risks associated with contaminants of legacy and emerging concern at European aquaculture areas. Environmental Pollution, 252 (Pt B), 1301-1310. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.05.133

Environmental risks associated with contaminants of legacy and emerging concern at European aquaculture areas

2019

Other Outputs

National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 8

Tscharke, B, O'Brien, J., Reeks, T., Elisei, G., Grant, S., Mueller, J., Thomas, K., Ghetia, M., Bade, R., Nguyen, L., Gerber, C. and White, J. (2019). National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 8. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).

National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 8

2019

Journal Article

Harnessing the power of the census: characterising wastewater treatment plant catchment populations for wastewater-based epidemiology

Tscharke, Benjamin J., O'Brien, Jake, Ort, Christoph, Grant, Sharon, Gerber, Cobus, Bade, Richard, Thai, Phong K., Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2019). Harnessing the power of the census: characterising wastewater treatment plant catchment populations for wastewater-based epidemiology. Environmental Science and Technology, 53 (17) acs.est.9b03447, 10303-10311. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03447

Harnessing the power of the census: characterising wastewater treatment plant catchment populations for wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Journal Article

Self adjusting algorithm for the nontargeted feature detection of high resolution mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography profile data

Samanipour, Saer, O’Brien, Jake W., Reid, Malcolm J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Self adjusting algorithm for the nontargeted feature detection of high resolution mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography profile data. Analytical Chemistry, 91 (16) acs.analchem.9b02422, 10800-10807. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b02422

Self adjusting algorithm for the nontargeted feature detection of high resolution mass spectrometry coupled with liquid chromatography profile data

2019

Journal Article

A pilot wastewater‐based epidemiology assessment of anabolic steroid use in Queensland, Australia

Shimko, Katja M., O'Brien, Jake W., Barron, Leon, Kayalar, Hasan, Mueller, Jochen F., Tscharke, Ben J., Choi, Phil M., Jiang, Hui, Eaglesham, Geoff and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). A pilot wastewater‐based epidemiology assessment of anabolic steroid use in Queensland, Australia. Drug Testing and Analysis, 11 (7) dta.2591, 937-949. doi: 10.1002/dta.2591

A pilot wastewater‐based epidemiology assessment of anabolic steroid use in Queensland, Australia

2019

Journal Article

Letter to the editor: Optimism for nontarget analysis in environmental chemistry

Samanipour, Saer, Martin, Jonathan W., Lamoree, Marja H., Reid, Malcolm J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Letter to the editor: Optimism for nontarget analysis in environmental chemistry. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (10) acs.est.9b01476, 5529-5530. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01476

Letter to the editor: Optimism for nontarget analysis in environmental chemistry

2019

Journal Article

Oxidative stress potential of the herbicides bifenox and metribuzin in the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Almeida, Ana Catarina, Gomes, Tânia, Langford, Katherine, Thomas, Kevin V. and Tollefsen, Knut Erik (2019). Oxidative stress potential of the herbicides bifenox and metribuzin in the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Aquatic Toxicology, 210, 117-128. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.02.021

Oxidative stress potential of the herbicides bifenox and metribuzin in the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

2019

Journal Article

Per capita loads of organic UV filters in Australian wastewater influent

O'Malley, Elissa, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen F. (2019). Per capita loads of organic UV filters in Australian wastewater influent. Science of The Total Environment, 662, 134-140. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.01.140

Per capita loads of organic UV filters in Australian wastewater influent

2019

Journal Article

Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach

Mackie, Rachel S., Tscharke, Benjamin J., O'Brien, Jake W., Choi, Phil M., Gartner, Coral E., Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2019). Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach. Environment International, 125, 184-190. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.01.053

Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach

2019

Other Outputs

National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 7

Tscharke, B., Reeks, T., Elisei, G., O'Brien, J., Grant, S., Mueller, J., Thomas, K., Ghetia, M., Bade, R., Nguyen, L., Gerber, C. and White, J. (2019). National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 7. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).

National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 7

2019

Journal Article

Machine learning combined with non-targeted LC-HRMS analysis for a risk warning system of chemical hazards in drinking water: A proof of concept

Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Vijayasarathy, Soumini, Jiang, Hui, Choi, Phil, Reid, Malcolm J., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Machine learning combined with non-targeted LC-HRMS analysis for a risk warning system of chemical hazards in drinking water: A proof of concept. Talanta, 195, 426-432. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2018.11.039

Machine learning combined with non-targeted LC-HRMS analysis for a risk warning system of chemical hazards in drinking water: A proof of concept

2019

Journal Article

The effect of extraction methodology on the recovery and distribution of naphthenic acids of oilfield produced water

Samanipour, Saer, Hooshyari, Maryam, Baz-Lomba, Jose A., Reid, Malcolm J., Casale, Monica and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). The effect of extraction methodology on the recovery and distribution of naphthenic acids of oilfield produced water. Science of the Total Environment, 652, 1416-1423. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.264

The effect of extraction methodology on the recovery and distribution of naphthenic acids of oilfield produced water

2019

Journal Article

Assessing alternative population size proxies in a wastewater catchment area using mobile device data

Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Di Ruscio, Francesco, Amador, Arturo, Reid, Malcolm and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Assessing alternative population size proxies in a wastewater catchment area using mobile device data. Environmental Science and Technology, 53 (4), 1994-2001. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05389

Assessing alternative population size proxies in a wastewater catchment area using mobile device data

2019

Journal Article

LC-HRMS suspect screening to show spatial patterns of New Psychoactive Substances use in Australia

Bade, Richard, Tscharke, Benjamin J., White, Jason M., Grant, Sharon, Mueller, Jochen F., O'Brien, Jake, Thomas, Kevin V. and Gerber, Cobus (2019). LC-HRMS suspect screening to show spatial patterns of New Psychoactive Substances use in Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 650 (Pt 2), 2181-2187. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.348

LC-HRMS suspect screening to show spatial patterns of New Psychoactive Substances use in Australia

Current funding

  • 2026 - 2030
    Characterising Environmental Chemicals Driving Antimicrobial Resistance
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    ARC Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (ARC ITRP administered by the University of Tasmania)
    University of Tasmania
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2028
    Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Identification of chemical and biological determinants, their sources, and strategies to promote healthier homes in Europe (INQUIRE)
    NHMRC European Union Collaborative Research Grants
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2027
    Improving indoor air quality and health: Identification of chemical and biological determinants, their sources, and strategies to promote healthier homes in Europe - INQUIRE (EU RIA led by NILU)
    Norwegian Institute for Air Research
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2028
    Developing protocols to measure plastic chemicals in human brain, blood and urine
    The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2030
    Centre to develop novel mass spectrometry protocols to measure plastic chemicals in human tissue
    The Minderoo Foundation Pty Ltd
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2024 - 2025
    Chemical Analyses of National Passive Air Samples
    DCCEEW - Approach to Market
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Analysing Clothing Textiles on the Australian Market for Chemicals of Concern
    DCCEEW - Approach to Market
    Open grant
  • 2024
    Microplastics in drinking water
    Minderoo Foundation Limited
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Australian Environmental Specimen Bank: advancing specimen bank capability
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Preliminary investigations relating to the role of cyanobacterial blooms in the amplification and dispersal of antimicrobial resistance
    Melbourne Water Corporation
    Open grant
  • 2021
    Quarantined ion chromatography mass spectrometry (IC-MS) facility (ARC LIEF administered by University of Tasmania)
    University of Tasmania
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Exposure to Trihalomethanes in pregnancy and birth outcomes in Queensland: integrated data analysis and case studies for better policy and health outcomes
    NHMRC Partnership Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    Improved monitoring of aquatic pollutants in national water resources
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    Comprehensive characterisation of the PFAS exposome
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Estimating use of tobacco and nicotine products through wastewater analysis
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2024
    Microplastics: Long-term Effects of plastics and Additive Chemicals on marine organisms (MicroLEACH)
    Norwegian Institute for Water Research
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    A global platform for identifying emerging chemical threats
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019
    A Gas Chromatography-High Resolution Accurate Mass Spectrometry Facility
    ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Novel Testing Strategies for Endocrine Disruptors in the Context of Developmental Neuro Toxicity (ENDpoiNTs) (Horizon 2020 Grant administered by Karolinska Institute)
    Uppsala University
    Open grant
  • 2019
    UHPLC-QTOF-MS for research on emerging chemical pollutants including PFAS
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2020
    Identification and screening for potential human health effects of coal seam gas (CSG) activity in the southern Surat Basin, Queensland
    CSIRO
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2023
    Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Exposure mapping - combining wastewater analysis with human biomonitoring
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences
    Queensland Health
    Open grant

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

    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

    Microplastics pollution in water systems: Issues and Treatment

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo

  • 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

    Assessing microplastic inputs from ships

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cross regional comparison of emerging contaminants in urban catchments

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessing dietary exposure to plastics and associated chemicals

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

    The fate of plastics in soils

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • 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

    Emerging contaminants in Food Organics and Garden Organic (FOGO) materials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human exposure and accumulation of plastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance

    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

    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

    Developing the framework for a national wastewater antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use surveillance method

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien

  • 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

    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

    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 Cassandra Rauert, Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Kevin Thomas directly for media enquiries about:

  • Aquatic pollution
  • chemical pollution
  • Illicit drug monitoring in wastewater
  • Microplastics

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