Overview
Background
Professor Kevin Thomas is an internationally recognised environmental health scientist and Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) at The University of Queensland. He leads cutting-edge research aimed at understanding how environmental contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) affect both ecosystems and human health, with a strong focus on translating science into real-world protection and policy impact. He also leads the Minderoo Centre– Plastics and Human Health at UQ and serves as QLD Node Leader and Deputy Director of the ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (HyTech), where he helps drive innovation in advanced chemical analysis and environmental monitoring. Kevin’s research sits at the intersection of environmental chemistry, analytical science, and environmental health. He is particularly known for his work on human exposure to plastic pollution, developing state-of-the-art mass spectrometric methods to detect and characterise plastics and other emerging contaminants. His work is also reshaping how population health is studied through wastewater-based epidemiology, providing a powerful lens into community-wide exposure and health trends. Beyond traditional sampling methods, Kevin is pioneering novel exposure monitoring approaches—including the use of explanted silicone prostheses and wearable wristbands—to better understand how contaminants interact with the human body in everyday life. Through this work, he is helping redefine how environmental exposure is measured and understood, bridging advanced analytical chemistry with urgent global health challenges.
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
2019
Conference Publication
Microplastics quantification in complex environment samples using combined solvent extraction and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Stacey, O'Brien, Jake, Gallen, Michael and Thomas, Kevin (2019). Microplastics quantification in complex environment samples using combined solvent extraction and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. 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.
2019
Conference Publication
Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach
Mackie, Miss, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, Choi, Phil, Gartner, Coral, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2019). Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach. 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.
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
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
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
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
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).
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
2018
Journal Article
Exploring the potential of a global emerging contaminant early warning network through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry
Alygizakis, Nikiforos A., Samanipour, Saer, Hollender, Juliane, Ibáñez, María, Kaserzon, Sarit, Kokkali, Varvara, van Leerdam, Jan A., Mueller, Jochen F., Pijnappels, Martijn, Reid, Malcolm J., Schymanski, Emma L., Slobodnik, Jaroslav, Thomaidis, Nikolaos S. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2018). Exploring the potential of a global emerging contaminant early warning network through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (9), 5135-5144. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00365
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
-
Deciphering known and unknown chemical drivers of antimicrobial resistance in environmental mixtures
Quantify known AMR-selective chemicals in complex samples, use iceberg modelling to estimate unknown drivers, and isolate unknown AMR-selective compounds via bioassay-directed fractionation for structural characterisation by high resolution mass spectrometry.
-
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
PM2.5 and plastics pollution in Delhi: Sources, characterization and atmospheric transport modeling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
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
Understanding emerging contaminants and metabolomic responses in Australian seabird species
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Fisher Wang
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing dietary exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: 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
AMR in food producing environments (Ref: 5529)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and accumulation of plastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: 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
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
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
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
Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan, 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
Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
Completed supervision
-
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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