Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Plymouth University
- Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), Plymouth University
Works
Search Professor Kevin Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace
2014
Journal Article
Special issue. testing the waters: a selection of papers from the first international multidisciplinary conference on detecting illicit drugs in wastewater Preface
Castiglioni, Sara, Griffiths, Paul, Kasprzyk-Hordem, Barbara, Me, Angela and Thomas, Kevin V. (2014). Special issue. testing the waters: a selection of papers from the first international multidisciplinary conference on detecting illicit drugs in wastewater Preface. Science of the Total Environment, 487 (1), 611-612. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.130
2014
Journal Article
Using biomarkers in wastewater to monitor community drug use: a conceptual approach for dealing with new psychoactive substances
Reid, Malcolm J., Baz-Lomba, J. A., Ryu, Yeonsuk and Thomas, Kevin V. (2014). Using biomarkers in wastewater to monitor community drug use: a conceptual approach for dealing with new psychoactive substances. Science of the Total Environment, 487 (1), 651-658. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.057
2014
Journal Article
Testing wastewater to detect illicit drugs: state of the art, potential and research needs
Castiglioni, Sara, Thomas, Kevin V., Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Vandam, Liesbeth and Griffiths, Paul (2014). Testing wastewater to detect illicit drugs: state of the art, potential and research needs. Science of the Total Environment, 487 (1), 613-620. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.10.034
2014
Journal Article
Do antiparasitic medicines used in aquaculture pose a risk to the Norwegian aquatic environment?
Langford, Katherine H., Oxnevad, Sigurd, Schoyen, Merete and Thomas, Kevin V. (2014). Do antiparasitic medicines used in aquaculture pose a risk to the Norwegian aquatic environment?. Environmental Science and Technology, 48 (14), 7774-7780. doi: 10.1021/es5005329
2014
Journal Article
Screening for selected human pharmaceuticals and cocaine in the urban streams of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Thomas, Kevin V., Araujo da Silva, Felipe M., Langford, K. H., Leao de Souza, Afonso D., Nizzeto, L. and Waichman, A. V. (2014). Screening for selected human pharmaceuticals and cocaine in the urban streams of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Journal of the American Water Resources Association, 50 (2), 302-308. doi: 10.1111/jawr.12164
2014
Journal Article
Chemometrics-assisted effect-directed analysis of crude and refined oil using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry
Radovic, Jagos R., Thomas, Kevin V., Parastar, Hadi, Diez, Sergi, Tauler, Roma and Bayona, Josep M. (2014). Chemometrics-assisted effect-directed analysis of crude and refined oil using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Environmental Science and Technology, 48 (5), 3074-3083. doi: 10.1021/es404859m
2014
Journal Article
Analysis of new classes of recreational drugs in sewage: synthetic cannabinoids and amphetamine-like substances
Reid, Malcolm J., Derry, Lisa and Thomas, Kevin V. (2014). Analysis of new classes of recreational drugs in sewage: synthetic cannabinoids and amphetamine-like substances. Drug Testing and Analysis, 6 (1-2), 72-79. doi: 10.1002/dta.1461
2014
Conference Publication
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in European herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs from Norway
Muusse, Martine, Christensen, Guttorm, Langford, Katherine, Tollefsen, Knut-Erik and Thomas, Kevin V. (2014). Aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in European herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs from Norway. 4th Norwegian Environmental Toxicology Symposium, Tromso, Norway, 16-18 October 2012. New York, NY, United States: Taylor and Francis . doi: 10.1080/15287394.2014.887419
2013
Journal Article
Drinking water quality for peri-urban residents in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thomas, K., McBean, E. and Murphy, H. M. (2013). Drinking water quality for peri-urban residents in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Journal of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 3 (4), 512-521. doi: 10.2166/washdev.2013.126
2013
Journal Article
Effects of simulated weathering on the toxicity of selected crude oils and their components to sea urchin embryos
Rial, Diego, Radovic, Jagos R., Bayona, Josep M., Macrae, Kenneth, Thomas, Kevin V. and Beiras, Ricardo (2013). Effects of simulated weathering on the toxicity of selected crude oils and their components to sea urchin embryos. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 260, 67-73. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.05.004
2013
Journal Article
Should silicone prostheses be considered for specimen banking? A pilot study into their use for human biomonitoring
Allan, Ian J., Baek, Kine, Kringstad, Alfhild, Roald, Helge E. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2013). Should silicone prostheses be considered for specimen banking? A pilot study into their use for human biomonitoring. Environment International, 59, 462-468. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.06.021
2013
Journal Article
Passive sampling for target and nontarget analyses of moderately polar and nonpolar substances in water
Allan, Ian J., Harman, Christopher, Ranneklev, Sissel B., Thomas, Kevin V. and Grung, Merete (2013). Passive sampling for target and nontarget analyses of moderately polar and nonpolar substances in water. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 32 (8), 1718-1726. doi: 10.1002/etc.2260
2013
Journal Article
EDA-EMERGE: an FP7 initial training network to equip the next generation of young scientists with the skills to address the complexity of environmental contamination with emerging pollutants
Brack, Werner, Govender, Selvan, Schulze, Tobias, Krauss, Martin, Hu, Meng, Muz, Melis, Hollender, Juliane, Schirmer, Kristin, Schollee, Jennifer, Hidasi, Anita, Slobodnik, Jaroslav, Rabova, Zuzana, Ait-Aissa, Selim, Sonavane, Manoj, Carere, Mario, Lamoree, Marja, Leonards, Pim, Tufi, Sara, Ouyang, Xiyu, Schriks, Merijn, Thomas, Kevin, De Almeida, Ana Catarina, Froment, Jean, Hammers-Wirtz, Monika, Ahel, Marijan, Koprivica, Sanja, Hollert, Henner, Seiler, Thomas-Benjamin, Di Paolo, Carolina ... Spirhanzlova, Petra (2013). EDA-EMERGE: an FP7 initial training network to equip the next generation of young scientists with the skills to address the complexity of environmental contamination with emerging pollutants. Environmental Sciences Europe, 25 (1) 18. doi: 10.1186/2190-4715-25-18
2013
Journal Article
Biotransformation kinetics and sorption of cocaine and its metabolites and the factors influencing their estimation in wastewater
Plosz, Benedek Gy., Reid, Malcolm J., Borup, Morten, Langford, Katherine H. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2013). Biotransformation kinetics and sorption of cocaine and its metabolites and the factors influencing their estimation in wastewater. Water Research, 47 (7), 2129-2140. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2012.12.034
2013
Journal Article
The occurrence of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in non-target raptor species in Norway
Langford, Katherine H., Reid, Malcolm and Thomas, Kevin V. (2013). The occurrence of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in non-target raptor species in Norway. Science of the Total Environment, 450-451, 205-208. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.01.100
2013
Journal Article
Prioritisation of organic contaminants in a river basin using chemical analyses and bioassays
Smital, Tvrtko, Terzić, Senka, Lončar, Jovica, Senta, Ivan, Žaja, Roko, Popović, Marta, Mikac, Iva, Tollefsen, Knut-Erik, Thomas, Kevin V. and Ahel, Marijan (2013). Prioritisation of organic contaminants in a river basin using chemical analyses and bioassays. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 20 (3), 1384-1395. doi: 10.1007/s11356-012-1059-x
2013
Journal Article
Evaluation of uncertainties associated with the determination of community drug use through the measurement of sewage drug biomarkers
Castiglioni, Sara, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Covaci, Adrian, Emke, Erik, Hernandez, Felix, Reid, Malcolm, Ort, Christoph, Thomas, Kevin V., van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., de Voogt, Pim and Zuccato, Ettore (2013). Evaluation of uncertainties associated with the determination of community drug use through the measurement of sewage drug biomarkers. Environmental Science and Technology, 47 (3), 1452-1460. doi: 10.1021/es302722f
2012
Journal Article
Effects of salinity on the toxicity of ionic silver and Ag-PVP nanoparticles to Tisbe battagliai and Ceramium tenuicorne
Macken, Ailbhe, Byrne, Hugh J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2012). Effects of salinity on the toxicity of ionic silver and Ag-PVP nanoparticles to Tisbe battagliai and Ceramium tenuicorne. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 86 (9), 101-110. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2012.08.025
2012
Journal Article
Estimation of cocaine consumption in the community: a critical comparison of the results from three complimentary techniques
Reid, Malcolm J., Langford, Katherine H., Grung, Merete, Gjerde, Hallvard, Amundsen, Ellen J., Morland, Jorg and Thomas, Kevin V. (2012). Estimation of cocaine consumption in the community: a critical comparison of the results from three complimentary techniques. BMJ Open, 2 (6) e001637, e001637. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001637
2012
Journal Article
An activated sludge modeling framework for xenobiotic trace chemicals (ASM-X): assessment of diclofenac and carbamazepine
Plósz, Benedek Gy., Langford, Katherine H. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2012). An activated sludge modeling framework for xenobiotic trace chemicals (ASM-X): assessment of diclofenac and carbamazepine. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 109 (11), 2757-2769. doi: 10.1002/bit.24553
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Kevin Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
-
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
-
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotics and other chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing dietary exposure to plastics and associated chemicals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing microplastic inputs from ships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
development of accurate quantitative methods for microplastics in the terrestrial and marine environments
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jianhua Guo
-
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
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 Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastics pollution in water systems: Issues and Treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and accumulation of plastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie 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 Cassie 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 Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing glyphosate exposure from high use practices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Sara Ghorbani Gorji, Professor Bhagirath Chauhan, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Fate and behaviour of neonicotinoids in Australian aquatic environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Ghorbani Gorji, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Developing the framework for a national wastewater antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use surveillance method
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging contaminants in Food Organics and Garden Organic (FOGO) materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Sara Ghorbani Gorji, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert, Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan
-
Doctor Philosophy
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
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 Cassie Rauert, 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 Cassie Rauert
-
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
-
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
Completed supervision
-
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, Dr Pradeep Dewapriya
-
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
-
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
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
-
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
-
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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