Professor Kevin Thomas
Professor

Kevin Thomas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32443

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

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

431 works between 1995 and 2026
All (431) Journal Article (385) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (11)

261 - 280 of 431 works

2018

Journal Article

Combining a deconvolution and a universal library search algorithm for the nontarget analysis of data-independent acquisition mode liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry results

Samanipour, Saer, Reid, Malcolm J., Bæk, Kine and Thomas, Kevin V. (2018). Combining a deconvolution and a universal library search algorithm for the nontarget analysis of data-independent acquisition mode liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry results. Environmental Science & Technology, 52 (8), 4694-4701. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00259

Combining a deconvolution and a universal library search algorithm for the nontarget analysis of data-independent acquisition mode liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry results

2018

Journal Article

Enantiomeric profiling of chiral illicit drugs in a pan-European study

Castrignanò, Erika, Yang, Zhugen, Bade, Richard, Baz-Lomba, Jose A., Castiglioni, Sara, Causanilles, Ana, Covaci, Adrian, Gracia-Lor, Emma, Hernandez, Felix, Kinyua, Juliet, McCall, Ann-Kathrin, van Nuijs, Alexander L.N., Ort, Christoph, Plósz, Benedek G., Ramin, Pedram, Rousis, Nikolaos I., Ryu, Yeonsuk, Thomas, Kevin V., de Voogt, Pim, Zuccato, Ettore and Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara (2018). Enantiomeric profiling of chiral illicit drugs in a pan-European study. Water Research, 130, 151-160. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.11.051

Enantiomeric profiling of chiral illicit drugs in a pan-European study

2018

Journal Article

Weathering impacts the uptake of polyethylene microparticles from toothpaste in Mediterranean mussels (M. galloprovincialis)

Bråte, Inger Lise N., Blázquez, Mercedes, Brooks, Steven J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2018). Weathering impacts the uptake of polyethylene microparticles from toothpaste in Mediterranean mussels (M. galloprovincialis). Science of the Total Environment, 626, 1310-1318. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.141

Weathering impacts the uptake of polyethylene microparticles from toothpaste in Mediterranean mussels (M. galloprovincialis)

2018

Journal Article

A high-throughput solid-phase microextraction and post-loop mixing large volume injection method for water samples

Baz-Lomba, J. A., Löve, Arndís Sue-Ching, Reid, Malcolm J., Ólafsdóttir, Kristín and Thomas, Kevin V. (2018). A high-throughput solid-phase microextraction and post-loop mixing large volume injection method for water samples. Journal of Chromatography A, 1531, 32-38. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.11.051

A high-throughput solid-phase microextraction and post-loop mixing large volume injection method for water samples

2018

Journal Article

Determination of cannabinoid and synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in wastewater by liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

González-Mariño, Iria, Thomas, Kevin V. and Reid, Malcolm J. (2018). Determination of cannabinoid and synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in wastewater by liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Drug Testing and Analysis, 10 (1), 222-228. doi: 10.1002/dta.2199

Determination of cannabinoid and synthetic cannabinoid metabolites in wastewater by liquid-liquid extraction and ultra-high performance supercritical fluid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

2018

Book Chapter

Wastewater analysis for community-wide drugs use assessment

Ort, Christoph, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Castiglioni, Sara, Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Emke, Erik, Hernández, Félix, Reid, Malcolm, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., Thomas, Kevin V. and Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara (2018). Wastewater analysis for community-wide drugs use assessment. New psychoactive substances: pharmacology, clinical, forensic and analytical toxicology. (pp. 543-566) edited by Hans H. Maurer and Simon D. Brandt. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/164_2018_111

Wastewater analysis for community-wide drugs use assessment

2017

Journal Article

Estimation of caffeine intake from analysis of caffeine metabolites in wastewater

Gracia-Lor, Emma, Rousis, Nikolaos I., Zuccato, Ettore, Bade, Richard, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Castrignano, Erika, Causanilles, Ana, Hernandez, Félix, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Kinyua, Juliet, McCall, Ann-Kathrin, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., Plosz, Benedek G., Ramin, Pedram, Ryu, Yeonsuk, Santos, Miguel M., Thomas, Kevin, de Voogt, Pim, Yang, Zhugen and Castiglioni, Sara (2017). Estimation of caffeine intake from analysis of caffeine metabolites in wastewater. Science of the Total Environment, 609, 1582-1588. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.258

Estimation of caffeine intake from analysis of caffeine metabolites in wastewater

2017

Journal Article

Review: ecotoxicity of organic and organo-metallic antifouling co-biocides and implications for environmental hazard and risk assessments in aquatic ecosystems

Martins, Samantha Eslava, Fillmann, Gilberto, Lillicrap, Adam and Thomas, Kevin V (2017). Review: ecotoxicity of organic and organo-metallic antifouling co-biocides and implications for environmental hazard and risk assessments in aquatic ecosystems. Biofouling, 34 (1), 34-52. doi: 10.1080/08927014.2017.1404036

Review: ecotoxicity of organic and organo-metallic antifouling co-biocides and implications for environmental hazard and risk assessments in aquatic ecosystems

2017

Journal Article

European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters

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, Schollee, 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 (2017). European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters. Science of the Total Environment, 601-602, 1849-1868. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.06.032

European demonstration program on the effect-based and chemical identification and monitoring of organic pollutants in European surface waters

2017

Conference Publication

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

Mackie, Rachel, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, Choi, Phil, Thomas, Kevin, Gartner, Coral and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach. 6th What's in Our Water (WiOW) Symposium, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 29 - 31 October 2017.

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

2017

Journal Article

Use of Mobile Device Data To Better Estimate Dynamic Population Size for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

Thomas, Kevin V., Amador, Arturo, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio and Reid, Malcolm (2017). Use of Mobile Device Data To Better Estimate Dynamic Population Size for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology. Environmental Science and Technology, 51 (19), 11363-11370. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b02538

Use of Mobile Device Data To Better Estimate Dynamic Population Size for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology

2017

Journal Article

Mixture toxicity of five biocides with dissimilar modes of action on the growth and photosystem II efficiency of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

de Almeida, Ana Catarina Godinho, Petersen, Karina, Langford, Katherine, Thomas, Kevin V. and Tollefsen, Knut Erik (2017). Mixture toxicity of five biocides with dissimilar modes of action on the growth and photosystem II efficiency of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A: Current Issues, 80 (16-18), 971-986. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2017.1352176

Mixture toxicity of five biocides with dissimilar modes of action on the growth and photosystem II efficiency of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

2017

Journal Article

Roads and motorized transport as major sources of priority substances?: a data register study

Grung, Merete, Vikan, Hedda, Hertel-Aas, Turid, Meland, Sondre, Thomas, Kevin V. and Ranneklev, Sissel (2017). Roads and motorized transport as major sources of priority substances?: a data register study. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A: Current Issues, 80 (16-18), 1031-1047. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2017.1352206

Roads and motorized transport as major sources of priority substances?: a data register study

2017

Journal Article

Passive sampling of wastewater as a tool for the long-term monitoring of community exposure: illicit and prescription drug trends as a proof of concept

Baz-Lomba, J. A., Harman, Christopher, Reid, Malcolm and Thomas, Kevin V. (2017). Passive sampling of wastewater as a tool for the long-term monitoring of community exposure: illicit and prescription drug trends as a proof of concept. Water Research, 121, 221-230. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.041

Passive sampling of wastewater as a tool for the long-term monitoring of community exposure: illicit and prescription drug trends as a proof of concept

2017

Journal Article

Wastewater-based epidemiology to assess pan-European pesticide exposure

Rousis, Nikolaos I., Gracia-Lor, Emma, Zuccato, Ettore, Bade, Richard, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Castrignano, Erika, Causanilles, Ana, Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Hernandez, Felix, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Kinyua, Juliet, McCall, Ann-Kathrin, Plosz, Benedek Gy., Ramin, Pedram, Ryu, Yeonsuk, Thomas, Kevin V., van Nuijs, Alexander, Yang, Zhugen and Castiglioni, Sara (2017). Wastewater-based epidemiology to assess pan-European pesticide exposure. Water Research, 121, 270-279. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.05.044

Wastewater-based epidemiology to assess pan-European pesticide exposure

2017

Other Outputs

Evaluation of PFAS remediation technologies: literature review and analysis

Braeunig, Jennifer, Mortimer, Munro, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Evaluation of PFAS remediation technologies: literature review and analysis. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Government, Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Evaluation of PFAS remediation technologies: literature review and analysis

2017

Journal Article

Toxicity of emerging antifouling biocides to non-target freshwater organisms from three trophic levels

Oliveira, Isabel B., Thomas, Kevin V., Groh, Ksenia J., Schönenberger, Rene, Barroso, Carlos and Suter, Marc J.-F. (2017). Toxicity of emerging antifouling biocides to non-target freshwater organisms from three trophic levels. Aquatic Toxicology, 191, 164-174. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.07.019

Toxicity of emerging antifouling biocides to non-target freshwater organisms from three trophic levels

2017

Journal Article

Oxidative stress in the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to biocides

Almeida, Ana Catarina, Gomes, Tania, Langford, Katherine, Thomas, Kevin V. and Tollefsen, Knut Erik (2017). Oxidative stress in the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to biocides. Aquatic Toxicology, 189, 50-59. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.05.014

Oxidative stress in the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to biocides

2017

Journal Article

Two stage algorithm vs commonly used approaches for the suspect screening of complex environmental samples analyzed via liquid chromatography high resolution time of flight mass spectroscopy: a test study

Samanipour, Saer, Baz-Lomba, Jose A, Alygizakis, Nikiforos A., Reid, Malcolm J., Thomaidis, Nikolaos S. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2017). Two stage algorithm vs commonly used approaches for the suspect screening of complex environmental samples analyzed via liquid chromatography high resolution time of flight mass spectroscopy: a test study. Journal of Chromatography A, 1501, 68-78. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2017.04.040

Two stage algorithm vs commonly used approaches for the suspect screening of complex environmental samples analyzed via liquid chromatography high resolution time of flight mass spectroscopy: a test study

2017

Journal Article

Statistical variable selection: an alternative prioritization strategy during the nontarget analysis of LC-HR-MS data

Samanipour, Saer, Reid, Malcolm J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2017). Statistical variable selection: an alternative prioritization strategy during the nontarget analysis of LC-HR-MS data. Analytical Chemistry, 89 (10), 5585-5591. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.7b00743

Statistical variable selection: an alternative prioritization strategy during the nontarget analysis of LC-HR-MS data

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

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

    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

    PM2.5 and plastics pollution in Delhi: Sources, characterization and atmospheric transport modeling

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Assessing dietary exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics

    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

    Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan, 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

    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 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: Dr Fisher Wang, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

  • 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

    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

    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

Completed supervision

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