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 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

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

391 works between 1995 and 2025
All (391) Journal Article (351) Book Chapter (10) Conference Publication (25) Other Outputs (5)

201 - 220 of 391 works

2019

Book Chapter

Mining population exposure and community health via wastewater-based epidemiology

Choi, Phil M., Thomas, Kevin V., O’Brien, Jake W. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2019). Mining population exposure and community health via wastewater-based epidemiology. A new paradigm for environmental chemistry and toxicology: from concepts to insights. (pp. 99-114) Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-9447-8_8

Mining population exposure and community health via wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Conference Publication

Influence of population age and socioeconomics on chemical consumption and diet patterns measured by wastewater based epidemiology

Choi, P., Tscharke, B., Samanipour, S., O’Brien, J., Thomas, K. and Mueller, J. (2019). Influence of population age and socioeconomics on chemical consumption and diet patterns measured by wastewater based epidemiology. 2019 Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht, Netherlands, 25-28 August 2019. Alphen aan de Rijn, Netherlands: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). doi: 10.1097/01.ee9.0000606448.07396.1d

Influence of population age and socioeconomics on chemical consumption and diet patterns measured by wastewater based epidemiology

2019

Conference Publication

Measuring the scale of opioid consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis

Gerber, Cobus, Nguyen, Lynn, Bade, Richard, White, Jason, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, Mueller, Jochen and Thomas, Kevin (2019). Measuring the scale of opioid consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis. Fall National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), San Diego, CA, United States, 25-29 August 2019. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.

Measuring the scale of opioid consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis

2018

Journal Article

Calibration and validation of a novel passive sampling device for the time integrative monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and precursors in contaminated groundwater

Kaserzon, Sarit, Vijayasarathy, Soumini, Bräunig, Jennifer, Mueller, Linus, Hawker, Darryl W., Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). Calibration and validation of a novel passive sampling device for the time integrative monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and precursors in contaminated groundwater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 366, 423-431. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.12.010

Calibration and validation of a novel passive sampling device for the time integrative monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and precursors in contaminated groundwater

2018

Journal Article

Mytilus spp. as sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in Norwegian coastal waters: a qualitative and quantitative study

Bråte, Inger Lise N., Hurley, Rachel, Iversen, Karine, Beyer, Jonny, Thomas, Kevin V., Steindal, Calin C., Green, Norman W., Olsen, Marianne and Lusher, Amy (2018). Mytilus spp. as sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in Norwegian coastal waters: a qualitative and quantitative study. Environmental Pollution, 243 (Part A), 383-393. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.08.077

Mytilus spp. as sentinels for monitoring microplastic pollution in Norwegian coastal waters: a qualitative and quantitative study

2018

Journal Article

A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: a case study using the Australian Census

O'Brien, Jake W., Grant, Sharon, Banks, Andrew P.W., Bruno, Raimondo, Carter, Stephen, Choi, Phil M., Covaci, Adrian, Crosbie, Nicholas D., Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne, Jiang, Guangming, Kaserzon, Sarit, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Lai, Foon Yin, Mackie, Rachel, Marshall, Judi, Ort, Christoph, Paxman, Christopher, Prichard, Jeremy, Thai, Phong, Thomas, Kevin V., Tscharke, Ben and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: a case study using the Australian Census. Environment International, 122, 400-411. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.12.003

A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: a case study using the Australian Census

2018

Journal Article

Emerging pollutants in the EU: 10 years of NORMAN in support of environmental policies and regulations

Dulio, Valeria, van Bavel, Bert, Brorström-Lundén, Eva, Harmsen, Joop, Hollender, Juliane, Schlabach, Martin, Slobodnik, Jaroslav, Thomas, Kevin and Koschorreck, Jan (2018). Emerging pollutants in the EU: 10 years of NORMAN in support of environmental policies and regulations. Environmental Sciences Europe, 30 (1) 5. doi: 10.1186/s12302-018-0135-3

Emerging pollutants in the EU: 10 years of NORMAN in support of environmental policies and regulations

2018

Other Outputs

National wastewater drug monitoring program: sixth report

Tscharke, B., Mackie, R., O’Brien, J., Grant, S., Mueller, J., Thomas, K., Ghetia, M., Bade, R., Gerber, C. and White, J. (2018). National wastewater drug monitoring program: sixth report. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).

National wastewater drug monitoring program: sixth report

2018

Journal Article

Enantiomeric profiling of amphetamine and methamphetamine in wastewater: a 7-year study in regional and urban Queensland, Australia

Gao, Jianfa, Xu, Zeqiong, Li, Xiqing, O'Brien, Jake W., Culshaw, Peter N., Thomas, Kevin V., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2018). Enantiomeric profiling of amphetamine and methamphetamine in wastewater: a 7-year study in regional and urban Queensland, Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 643, 827-834. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.242

Enantiomeric profiling of amphetamine and methamphetamine in wastewater: a 7-year study in regional and urban Queensland, Australia

2018

Journal Article

'Ice rushes', data shadows and methylamphetamine use in rural towns: wastewater analysis

Prichard, Jeremy, Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake, Bruno, Raimondo, Thai, Phong, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, Paul, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). 'Ice rushes', data shadows and methylamphetamine use in rural towns: wastewater analysis. Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 29 (3), 195-208. doi: 10.1080/10345329.2018.12036097

'Ice rushes', data shadows and methylamphetamine use in rural towns: wastewater analysis

2018

Journal Article

Population histamine burden assessed using wastewater-based epidemiology: the association of 1,4‑methylimidazole acetic acid and fexofenadine

Choi, Phil M., O'Brien, Jake W., Li, Jiaying, Jiang, Guangming, Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). Population histamine burden assessed using wastewater-based epidemiology: the association of 1,4‑methylimidazole acetic acid and fexofenadine. Environment International, 120, 172-180. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.08.009

Population histamine burden assessed using wastewater-based epidemiology: the association of 1,4‑methylimidazole acetic acid and fexofenadine

2018

Journal Article

Assessing sample extraction efficiencies for the analysis of complex unresolved mixtures of organic pollutants: a comprehensive non-target approach

Samanipour, Saer, Baz-Lomba, Jose A., Reid, Malcolm J., Ciceri, Elena, Rowland, Steven, Nilsson, Per and Thomas, Kevin V. (2018). Assessing sample extraction efficiencies for the analysis of complex unresolved mixtures of organic pollutants: a comprehensive non-target approach. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1025, 92-98. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.04.020

Assessing sample extraction efficiencies for the analysis of complex unresolved mixtures of organic pollutants: a comprehensive non-target approach

2018

Journal Article

Corrigendum to “European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters” [Sci. Total Environ. 601–602 (2017) 1849–1868] (S0048969717314365) (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.032))

Tousova, Zuzana, Oswald, Peter, Slobodnik, Jaroslav, Blaha, Ludek, Muz, Melis, Hu, Meng, Brack, Werner, Krauss, Martin, Di Paolo, Carolina, Tarcai, Zsolt, Seiler, Thomas-Benjamin, Hollert, Henner, Koprivica, Sanja, Ahel, Marijan, Schollée, Jennifer E., Hollender, Juliane, Suter, Marc J.-F., Hidasi, Anita O., Schirmer, Kristin, Sonavane, Manoj, Ait-Aissa, Selim, Creusot, Nicolas, Brion, Francois, Froment, Jean, Almeida, Ana Catarina, Thomas, Kevin, Tollefsen, Knut Erik, Tufi, Sara, Ouyang, Xiyu ... Schulze, Tobias (2018). Corrigendum to “European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters” [Sci. Total Environ. 601–602 (2017) 1849–1868] (S0048969717314365) (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.032)). Science of the Total Environment, 635, 1620-1621. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.356

Corrigendum to “European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters” [Sci. Total Environ. 601–602 (2017) 1849–1868] (S0048969717314365) (10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.032))

2018

Journal Article

Ecotoxicological effects of transformed silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the effluent from a lab-scale wastewater treatment system

Georgantzopoulou, Anastasia, Almeida Carvalho, Patricia, Vogelsang, Christian, Tilahun, Mengstab, Ndungu, Kuria, Booth, Andy M., Thomas, Kevin V. and Macken, Ailbhe (2018). Ecotoxicological effects of transformed silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the effluent from a lab-scale wastewater treatment system. Environmental Science and Technology, 52 (16), 9431-9441. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b01663

Ecotoxicological effects of transformed silver and titanium dioxide nanoparticles in the effluent from a lab-scale wastewater treatment system

2018

Journal Article

Wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: past, present and future

Choi, Phil M., Tscharke, Ben J., Donner, Erica, O'Brien, Jake W., Grant, Sharon C., Kaserzon, Sarit L., Mackie, Rachel, O'Malley, Elissa, Crosbie, Nicholas D., Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). Wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: past, present and future. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 105, 453-469. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.06.004

Wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: past, present and future

2018

Journal Article

Analysis of stimulant drugs in the wastewater of five Nordic capitals

Löve, Arndís Sue Ching, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Reid, Malcolm J., Kankaanpää, Aino, Gunnar, Teemu, Dam, Maria, Ólafsdóttir, Kristín and Thomas, Kevin V. (2018). Analysis of stimulant drugs in the wastewater of five Nordic capitals. Science of the Total Environment, 627, 1039-1047. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.274

Analysis of stimulant drugs in the wastewater of five Nordic capitals

2018

Journal Article

Comparison of phosphodiesterase type V inhibitors use in eight European cities through analysis of urban wastewater

Causanilles, Ana, Rojas Cantillano, Daniela, Emke, Erik, Bade, Richard, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Castiglioni, Sara, Castrignanò, Erika, Gracia-Lor, Emma, Hernández, Félix, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Kinyua, Juliet, McCall, Ann-Kathrin, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., Plósz, Benedek G., Ramin, Pedram, Rousis, Nikolaos I., Ryu, Yeonsuk, Thomas, Kevin V. and de Voogt, Pim (2018). Comparison of phosphodiesterase type V inhibitors use in eight European cities through analysis of urban wastewater. Environment International, 115, 279-284. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.03.039

Comparison of phosphodiesterase type V inhibitors use in eight European cities through analysis of urban wastewater

2018

Journal Article

Multi-year inter-laboratory exercises for the analysis of illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater: development of a quality control system

van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., Lai, Foon Yin, Been, Frederic, Andres-Costa, Maria Jesus, Barron, Leon, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Berset, Jean-Daniel, Benaglia, Lisa, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Burgard, Dan, Castiglioni, Sara, Christophoridis, Christophoros, Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Emke, Erik, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Fick, Jerker, Hernandez, Felix, Gerber, Cobus, González-Mariño, Iria, Grabic, Roman, Gunnar, Teemu, Kannan, Kurunthachalam, Karolak, Sara, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Kokot, Zenon, Krizman-Matasic, Ivona, Li, Angela, Li, Xiqing ... Ort, Christoph (2018). Multi-year inter-laboratory exercises for the analysis of illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater: development of a quality control system. TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 103, 34-43. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.03.009

Multi-year inter-laboratory exercises for the analysis of illicit drugs and metabolites in wastewater: development of a quality control system

2018

Journal Article

Identification of algal growth inhibitors in treated waste water using effect-directed analysis based on non-target screening techniques

Tousova, Zuzana, Froment, Jean, Oswald, Peter, Slobodník, Jaroslav, Hilscherova, Klara, Thomas, Kevin V., Tollefsen, Knut Erik, Reid, Malcolm, Langford, Katherine and Blaha, Ludek (2018). Identification of algal growth inhibitors in treated waste water using effect-directed analysis based on non-target screening techniques. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 358, 494-502. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.05.031

Identification of algal growth inhibitors in treated waste water using effect-directed analysis based on non-target screening techniques

2018

Journal Article

Mass spectrometric strategies for the investigation of biomarkers of illicit drug use in wastewater

Hernández, Félix, Castiglioni, Sara, Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Emke, Erik, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Ort, Christoph, Reid, Malcolm, Sancho, Juan V., Thomas, Kevin V., van Nuijs, Alexander L.N., Zuccato, Ettore and Bijlsma, Lubertus (2018). Mass spectrometric strategies for the investigation of biomarkers of illicit drug use in wastewater. Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 37 (3), 258-280. doi: 10.1002/mas.21525

Mass spectrometric strategies for the investigation of biomarkers of illicit drug use in wastewater

Current 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
  • 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
  • 2022 - 2027
    ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    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
  • 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

Past funding

  • 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 - 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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Available projects for prospective PhD students

    Projects are available arounf 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

  • 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

  • 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

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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