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)

341 - 360 of 441 works

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

Passive sampling for target and nontarget analyses of moderately polar and nonpolar substances in water

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

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

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

Biotransformation kinetics and sorption of cocaine and its metabolites and the factors influencing their estimation in wastewater

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

The occurrence of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides in non-target raptor species in Norway

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

Prioritisation of organic contaminants in a river basin using chemical analyses and bioassays

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

Evaluation of uncertainties associated with the determination of community drug use through the measurement of sewage drug biomarkers

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

Effects of salinity on the toxicity of ionic silver and Ag-PVP nanoparticles to Tisbe battagliai and Ceramium tenuicorne

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

Estimation of cocaine consumption in the community: a critical comparison of the results from three complimentary techniques

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

An activated sludge modeling framework for xenobiotic trace chemicals (ASM-X): assessment of diclofenac and carbamazepine

2012

Journal Article

Post-incident monitoring to evaluate environmental damage from shipping incidents: chemical and biological assessments

Radovic, Jagos R., Rial, Diego, Lyons, Brett P., Harman, Christopher, Vinas, Lucia, Beiras, Ricardo, Readman, James W., Thomas, Kevin V. and Bayona, Josep M. (2012). Post-incident monitoring to evaluate environmental damage from shipping incidents: chemical and biological assessments. Journal of Environmental Management, 109, 136-153. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.04.042

Post-incident monitoring to evaluate environmental damage from shipping incidents: chemical and biological assessments

2012

Journal Article

Legemidler som forurensning

Grung, Merete, Langford, Katherine and Thomas, Kevin V. (2012). Legemidler som forurensning. Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening, 132 (10), 1249-1251. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.11.1020

Legemidler som forurensning

2012

Journal Article

Comparing illicit drug use in 19 European cities through sewage analysis

Thomas, Kevin V., Bijlsma, Lubertus, Castiglioni, Sara, Covaci, Adrian, Emke, Erik, Grabic, Roman, Hernandez, Felix, Karolak, Sara, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Lindberg, Richard H., Lopez de Alda, Miren, Meierjohann, Axel, Ort, Christoph, Pico, Yolanda, Quintana, Jose B., Reid, Malcolm, Rieckermann, Joerg, Terzic, Senka, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N. and de Voogt, Pim (2012). Comparing illicit drug use in 19 European cities through sewage analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 432, 432-439. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.06.069

Comparing illicit drug use in 19 European cities through sewage analysis

2012

Conference Publication

Characterization of AhR agonist compounds in roadside snow

Muusse, Martine, Langford, Katherine, Tollefsen, Knut Erik, Cornelissen, Gerard, Haglund, Peter, Hylland, Ketil and Thomas, Kevin V. (2012). Characterization of AhR agonist compounds in roadside snow. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s00216-012-6000-0

Characterization of AhR agonist compounds in roadside snow

2012

Journal Article

The binding of phenanthrene to engineered silver and gold nanoparticles

Farkas, J., Nizzetto, L. and Thomas, K. V. (2012). The binding of phenanthrene to engineered silver and gold nanoparticles. Science of the Total Environment, 425, 283-288. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.03.010

The binding of phenanthrene to engineered silver and gold nanoparticles

2012

Book Chapter

Passive sampling of organic contaminants in waters

Harman, C., Allan, I. and Thomas, K.V. (2012). Passive sampling of organic contaminants in waters. Comprehensive sampling and sample preparation. (pp. 265-280) edited by Janusz Pawliszyn. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-381373-2.00014-4

Passive sampling of organic contaminants in waters

2011

Journal Article

Quantitative assessment of time dependent drug-use trends by the analysis of drugs and related metabolites in raw sewage

Reid, Malcolm J., Langford, Katherine H., Morland, Jorg and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Quantitative assessment of time dependent drug-use trends by the analysis of drugs and related metabolites in raw sewage. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 119 (3), 179-186. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.06.007

Quantitative assessment of time dependent drug-use trends by the analysis of drugs and related metabolites in raw sewage

2011

Journal Article

The current status of community drug testing via the analysis of drugs and drug metabolites in sewage

Reid, Malcolm J., Harman, Christopher, Grung, Merete and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). The current status of community drug testing via the analysis of drugs and drug metabolites in sewage. Norsk Epidemiologi, 21 (1), 15-23. doi: 10.5324/nje.v21i1.1421

The current status of community drug testing via the analysis of drugs and drug metabolites in sewage

2011

Journal Article

REACH exposure assessment of anticorrosive paint products - determination of exposure from application and service life to the aquatic environment

Gade, Anne Lill, Heiaas, Harald, Thomas, Kevin and Hylland, Ketil (2011). REACH exposure assessment of anticorrosive paint products - determination of exposure from application and service life to the aquatic environment. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 61 (3), 332-339. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2011.09.003

REACH exposure assessment of anticorrosive paint products - determination of exposure from application and service life to the aquatic environment

2011

Journal Article

What else can the analysis of sewage for urinary biomarkers reveal about communities?

Thomas, Kevin V. and Reid, Malcolm J. (2011). What else can the analysis of sewage for urinary biomarkers reveal about communities?. Environmental Science and Technology, 45 (18), 7611-7612. doi: 10.1021/es202522d

What else can the analysis of sewage for urinary biomarkers reveal about communities?

2011

Journal Article

Analysis and interpretation of specific ethanol metabolites, ethyl sulfate, and ethyl glucuronide in sewage effluent for the quantitative measurement of regional alcohol consumption

Reid, Malcolm J., Langford, Katherine H., Morland, Jorg and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Analysis and interpretation of specific ethanol metabolites, ethyl sulfate, and ethyl glucuronide in sewage effluent for the quantitative measurement of regional alcohol consumption. Alcoholism-Clinical and Experimental Research, 35 (9), 1593-1599. doi: 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2011.01505.x

Analysis and interpretation of specific ethanol metabolites, ethyl sulfate, and ethyl glucuronide in sewage effluent for the quantitative measurement of regional alcohol consumption

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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