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Professor Kevin Thomas
Professor

Kevin Thomas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32443

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

Qualifications

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

Works

Search Professor Kevin Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace

441 works between 1995 and 2026

241 - 260 of 441 works

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

2019

Journal Article

Accumulation and fate of nano- and micro-plastics and associated contaminants in organisms

Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Jake W., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Accumulation and fate of nano- and micro-plastics and associated contaminants in organisms. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 111, 139-147. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.12.010

Accumulation and fate of nano- and micro-plastics and associated contaminants in organisms

2019

Conference Publication

Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology to inform on public health

Thomas, Kevin, O'Brien, Jake, Tscharke, Benjamin, Choi, Phil, Thai, Phong, Mackie, Miss, Verhagen, Rory, Shimko, Katja, Ahmed, Fahad, O'Malley, Elissa, Zheng, Quida and Mueller, Jochen (2019). Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology to inform on public health. 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.

Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology to inform on public health

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

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

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.

Microplastics quantification in complex environment samples using combined solvent extraction and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

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.

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

2019

Conference Publication

Implication of in-sewer stability testing of markers for wastewater-based epidemiology

O'Brien, Jake W. , Jiang, Guangming , Gao, Jianfa , Li, Jiaying , Banks, Andrew , Mueller, Jochen F. , Choi, Phil , Thomas, Kevin V. , Ort, Christoph , Tscharke, Benjamin J. and Thai, Phong K. (2019). Implication of in-sewer stability testing of markers for wastewater-based epidemiology. ACS Fall 2019 National Meeting & Exposition, San Diego, CA, United States, 25-29 August 2019. WASHINGTON: AMER CHEMICAL SOC.

Implication of in-sewer stability testing of markers for wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Conference Publication

Monitoring opioid use through wastewater-based epidemiology: Case of methadone in Australia and China

Thai, Phong, O'Brien, Jake, Tscharke, Benjamin, Du, Peng, Li, Xiqing, Bruno, Raimondo, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2019). Monitoring opioid use through wastewater-based epidemiology: Case of methadone in Australia and China. 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.

Monitoring opioid use through wastewater-based epidemiology: Case of methadone in Australia and China

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

Funding

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
  • 2023
    Performance and Image Enhancing Substances in Wastewater
    Sport Integrity Australia
    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

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

Media

Enquiries

Contact Professor Kevin Thomas directly for media enquiries about:

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

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au