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)

301 - 320 of 431 works

2016

Book Chapter

Pharmaceuticals in the marine environment

Gaw, Sally, Thomas, Kevin and Hutchinson, Thomas H. (2016). Pharmaceuticals in the marine environment. Pharmaceuticals in the environment. (pp. 70-91) edited by R. E. Hester and R. M. Harrison. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Royal Society of Chemistry. doi: 10.1039/9781782622345-00070

Pharmaceuticals in the marine environment

2016

Conference Publication

A modelling approach to estimate the number of people contributing to a wastewater sample using population biomarkers

O'Brien, Jake, Thai, Phong, Ort, Christoph, Thomas, Kevin, Reid, Malcolm, Baz Lomba, José Antonio, Lai, Foon Yin and Mueller, Jochen (2016). A modelling approach to estimate the number of people contributing to a wastewater sample using population biomarkers. 2016 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Sicence, Utrecht, Netherlands, 9 - 13 October 2016. Herndon, VA, United States: International Society of Exposure Science.

A modelling approach to estimate the number of people contributing to a wastewater sample using population biomarkers

2015

Journal Article

Impact of TiO2 nanoparticles on freshwater bacteria from three Swedish lakes

Farkas, Julia, Peter, Hannes, Ciesielski, Tomasz M., Thomas, Kevin V., Sommaruga, Ruben, Salvenmoser, Willi, Weyhenmeyer, Gesa A., Tranvik, Lars J. and Jenssen, Bjorn M. (2015). Impact of TiO2 nanoparticles on freshwater bacteria from three Swedish lakes. Science of the Total Environment, 535, 85-93. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.03.043

Impact of TiO2 nanoparticles on freshwater bacteria from three Swedish lakes

2015

Journal Article

Recommendations for the inclusion of targeted testing to improve the regulatory environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicines used in aquaculture

Lillicrap, Adam, Macken, Ailbhe and Thomas, Kevin V. (2015). Recommendations for the inclusion of targeted testing to improve the regulatory environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicines used in aquaculture. Environment International, 85, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.07.019

Recommendations for the inclusion of targeted testing to improve the regulatory environmental risk assessment of veterinary medicines used in aquaculture

2015

Journal Article

Transition from shear to stress-assisted diffusion of copper-chromium nanolayered thin films at elevated temperatures

Raghavan, R., Wheeler, J. M., Harzer, T. P., Chawla, V., Djaziri, S., Thomas, K., Philippi, B., Kirchlechner, C., Jaya, B. N., Wehrs, J., Michler, J. and Dehm, G. (2015). Transition from shear to stress-assisted diffusion of copper-chromium nanolayered thin films at elevated temperatures. Acta Materialia, 100, 73-80. doi: 10.1016/j.actamat.2015.08.016

Transition from shear to stress-assisted diffusion of copper-chromium nanolayered thin films at elevated temperatures

2015

Journal Article

Wastewater-based epidemiology of stimulant drugs: functional data analysis compared to traditional statistical methods

Salvatore, Stefania, Bramness, Jørgen Gustav, Reid, Malcolm J., Thomas, Kevin Victor, Harman, Christopher and Røislien, Jo (2015). Wastewater-based epidemiology of stimulant drugs: functional data analysis compared to traditional statistical methods. PLoS One, 10 (9) e0138669, e0138669. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138669

Wastewater-based epidemiology of stimulant drugs: functional data analysis compared to traditional statistical methods

2015

Journal Article

Bioaccumulation and biological effects of cigarette litter in marine worms

Wright, Stephanie L., Rowe, Darren, Reid, Malcolm J., Thomas, Kevin V. and Galloway, Tamara S. (2015). Bioaccumulation and biological effects of cigarette litter in marine worms. Scientific Reports, 5 (1) 14119. doi: 10.1038/srep14119

Bioaccumulation and biological effects of cigarette litter in marine worms

2015

Journal Article

Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry with immunoaffinity clean-up for the determination of the oxidative stress biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha in wastewater

Ryu, Yeonsuk, Reid, Malcolm J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2015). Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry with immunoaffinity clean-up for the determination of the oxidative stress biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha in wastewater. Journal of Chromatography A, 1409, 146-151. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2015.07.060

Liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry with immunoaffinity clean-up for the determination of the oxidative stress biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha in wastewater

2015

Journal Article

Environmental occurrence and risk of organic UV filters and stabilizers in multiple matrices in Norway

Langford, Katherine H., Reid, Malcolm J., Fjeld, Eirik, Oxnevad, Sigurd and Thomas, Kevin V. (2015). Environmental occurrence and risk of organic UV filters and stabilizers in multiple matrices in Norway. Environment International, 80, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.03.012

Environmental occurrence and risk of organic UV filters and stabilizers in multiple matrices in Norway

2015

Journal Article

Community sewage sensors for monitoring public health

Yang, Zhugen, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Frost, Christopher G., Estrela, Pedro and Thomas, Kevin V. (2015). Community sewage sensors for monitoring public health. Environmental Science and Technology, 49 (10), 5845-5846. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01434

Community sewage sensors for monitoring public health

2015

Journal Article

Characterization of AhR agonists reveals antagonistic activity in European herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs

Muusse, Martine, Christensen, Guttorm, Gomes, Tania, Kocan, Anton, Langford, Katherine, Tollefsen, Knut Erik, Varikova, Lenka and Thomas, Kevin V. (2015). Characterization of AhR agonists reveals antagonistic activity in European herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs. Science of the Total Environment, 514 (9-11), 211-218. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.01.101

Characterization of AhR agonists reveals antagonistic activity in European herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs

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

A novel DNA biosensor using a ferrocenyl intercalator applied to the potential detection of human population biomarkers in wastewater

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

Comparing the microbial risks associated with household drinking water supplies used in peri-urban communities of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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

A macroalgal germling bioassay to assess biocide concentrations in marine waters

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

Factors influencing sorption of ciprofloxacin onto activated sludge: experimental assessment and modelling implications

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

Mechanical behavior of Cu/TiN multilayers at ambient and elevated temperatures: Stress-assisted diffusion of Cu

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

Sources, impacts and trends of pharmaceuticals in the marine and coastal environment

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

Acute toxicity of tralopyril, capsaicin and triphenylborane pyridine to marine invertebrates

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

Spatial differences and temporal changes in illicit drug use in Europe quantified by wastewater analysis

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

Special issue. testing the waters: a selection of papers from the first international multidisciplinary conference on detecting illicit drugs in wastewater Preface

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

    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

    Assessing dietary exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

    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

    The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien

  • Doctor Philosophy

    AMR in food producing environments (Ref: 5529)

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

    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

    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

    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

    DETERMINATION OF MICRO AND NANOPLASTICS IN BREAST MILK, BLOOD AND MECONIUM SAMPLES FROM MOTHERS-INFANTS IN AUSTRALIA

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

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