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
2015
Journal Article
A novel DNA biosensor using a ferrocenyl intercalator applied to the potential detection of human population biomarkers in wastewater
Yang, Zhugen, d'Auriac, Marc Angles, Goggins, Sean, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Thomas, Kevin V., Frost, Christopher G. and Estrela, Pedro (2015). A novel DNA biosensor using a ferrocenyl intercalator applied to the potential detection of human population biomarkers in wastewater. Environmental Science and Technology, 49 (9), 5609-5617. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00637
2015
Journal Article
Comparing the microbial risks associated with household drinking water supplies used in peri-urban communities of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Thomas, K., McBean, E., Shantz, A. and Murphy, H. M. (2015). Comparing the microbial risks associated with household drinking water supplies used in peri-urban communities of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Journal of Water and Health, 13 (1), 243-258. doi: 10.2166/wh.2014.214
2015
Journal Article
A macroalgal germling bioassay to assess biocide concentrations in marine waters
Girling, J. A., Thomas, K. V., Brooks, S. J., Smith, D. J., Shahsavari, E. and Ball, A. S. (2015). A macroalgal germling bioassay to assess biocide concentrations in marine waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 91 (1), 82-86. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbui.2014.12.025
2015
Journal Article
Factors influencing sorption of ciprofloxacin onto activated sludge: experimental assessment and modelling implications
Polesel, Fabio, Lehnberg, Kai, Dott, Wolfgang, Trapp, Stefan, Thomas, Kevin V. and Plosz, Benedek Gy. (2015). Factors influencing sorption of ciprofloxacin onto activated sludge: experimental assessment and modelling implications. Chemosphere, 119, 105-111. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.05.048
2014
Journal Article
Mechanical behavior of Cu/TiN multilayers at ambient and elevated temperatures: Stress-assisted diffusion of Cu
Raghavan, R., Wheeler, J. M., Esqué-de los Ojos, D., Thomas, K., Almandoz, E., Fuentes, G. G. and Michler, J. (2014). Mechanical behavior of Cu/TiN multilayers at ambient and elevated temperatures: Stress-assisted diffusion of Cu. Materials Science and Engineering A, 620, 375-382. doi: 10.1016/j.msea.2014.10.023
2014
Journal Article
Sources, impacts and trends of pharmaceuticals in the marine and coastal environment
Gaw, Sally, Thomas, Kevin V. and Hutchinson, Thomas H. (2014). Sources, impacts and trends of pharmaceuticals in the marine and coastal environment. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 369 (1656) 20130572, 20130572. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0572
2014
Journal Article
Acute toxicity of tralopyril, capsaicin and triphenylborane pyridine to marine invertebrates
Oliveira, Isabel B., Beiras, Ricardo, Thomas, Kevin V., Suter, Marc J-F and Barroso, Carlos M. (2014). Acute toxicity of tralopyril, capsaicin and triphenylborane pyridine to marine invertebrates. Ecotoxicology, 23 (7), 1336-1344. doi: 10.1007/s10646-014-1276-9
2014
Journal Article
Spatial differences and temporal changes in illicit drug use in Europe quantified by wastewater analysis
Ort, Christoph, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., Berset, Jean-Daniel, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Castiglioni, Sara, Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Emke, Erik, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Griffiths, Paul, Hernandez, Felix, Gonzalez-Marino, Iria, Grabic, Roman, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Mastroianni, Nicola, Meierjohann, Axel, Nefau, Thomas, Oestman, Marcus, Pico, Yolanda, Racamonde, Ines, Reid, Malcolm, Slobodnik, Jaroslav, Terzic, Senka, Thomaidis, Nikolaos and Thomas, Kevin V. (2014). Spatial differences and temporal changes in illicit drug use in Europe quantified by wastewater analysis. Addiction, 109 (8), 1338-1352. doi: 10.1111/add.12570
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
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
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
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Kevin Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jianhua Guo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastics pollution in water systems: Issues and Treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing dietary exposure to plastics and associated chemicals
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotics and other chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
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
-
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
PM2.5 and plastics pollution in Delhi: Sources, characterization and atmospheric transport modeling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
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 Cassie Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: 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
Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert, Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan
-
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, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
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
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
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
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
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
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
Human exposure and accumulation of plastics
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassie Rauert
-
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
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien
-
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
-
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, 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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