Professor Kevin Thomas
Professor

Kevin Thomas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32443

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

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

441 works between 1995 and 2026
All (441) Journal Article (395) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (11)

321 - 340 of 441 works

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

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

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

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

Testing wastewater to detect illicit drugs: state of the art, potential and research needs

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

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

Using biomarkers in wastewater to monitor community drug use: a conceptual approach for dealing with new psychoactive substances

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

Do antiparasitic medicines used in aquaculture pose a risk to the Norwegian aquatic environment?

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

Screening for selected human pharmaceuticals and cocaine in the urban streams of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil

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

Chemometrics-assisted effect-directed analysis of crude and refined oil using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

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

Analysis of new classes of recreational drugs in sewage: synthetic cannabinoids and amphetamine-like substances

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

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists in European herring gull (Larus argentatus) eggs from Norway

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

Drinking water quality for peri-urban residents in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

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

Effects of simulated weathering on the toxicity of selected crude oils and their components to sea urchin embryos

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

Should silicone prostheses be considered for specimen banking? A pilot study into their use for human biomonitoring

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

  • 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

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

    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

    Cross regional comparison of emerging contaminants in urban catchments

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

    High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Ubiquitous Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern

    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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human exposure and accumulation of plastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • 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

    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

    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

    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 fate of micro/nanoplastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan, Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

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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