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)

341 - 360 of 431 works

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

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

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

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

2011

Journal Article

Characterization of the effluent from a nanosilver producing washing machine

Farkas, Julia, Peter, Hannes, Christian, Paul, Urrea, Julian Alberto Gallego, Hassellov, Martin, Tuoriniemi, Jani, Gustafsson, Stefan, Olsson, Eva, Hylland, Ketil and Thomas, Kevin Victor (2011). Characterization of the effluent from a nanosilver producing washing machine. Environment International, 37 (6), 1057-1062. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.03.006

Characterization of the effluent from a nanosilver producing washing machine

2011

Journal Article

Multi-residue screening of prioritised human pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and bactericides in sediments and sludge

Langford, Katherine H., Reid, Malcolm and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Multi-residue screening of prioritised human pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and bactericides in sediments and sludge. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13 (8), 2284-2291. doi: 10.1039/c1em10260e

Multi-residue screening of prioritised human pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs and bactericides in sediments and sludge

2011

Journal Article

The need for standardized methods and environmental monitoring programs for anthropogenic nanoparticles

Paterson, Gordon, Macken, Ailbhe and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). The need for standardized methods and environmental monitoring programs for anthropogenic nanoparticles. Analytical Methods, 3 (7), 1461-1467. doi: 10.1039/c1ay05157a

The need for standardized methods and environmental monitoring programs for anthropogenic nanoparticles

2011

Journal Article

In situ calibration of a passive sampling device for selected illicit drugs and their metabolites in wastewater, and subsequent year-long assessment of community drug usage

Harman, Christopher, Reid, Malcolm and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). In situ calibration of a passive sampling device for selected illicit drugs and their metabolites in wastewater, and subsequent year-long assessment of community drug usage. Environmental Science and Technology, 45 (13), 5676-5682. doi: 10.1021/es201124j

In situ calibration of a passive sampling device for selected illicit drugs and their metabolites in wastewater, and subsequent year-long assessment of community drug usage

2011

Journal Article

Concerning the viewpoint; "an anti-doping sampling strategy utilizing the sewerage systems of sport villages"

Harman, Christopher, Reid, Malcolm and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Concerning the viewpoint; "an anti-doping sampling strategy utilizing the sewerage systems of sport villages". Environmental Science and Technology, 45 (10), 4191-4191. doi: 10.1021/es200839n

Concerning the viewpoint; "an anti-doping sampling strategy utilizing the sewerage systems of sport villages"

2011

Journal Article

Assessment of toxicological profiles of the municipal wastewater effluents using chemical analyses and bioassays

Smital, Tvrtko, Terzic, Senka, Zaja, Roko, Senta, Ivan, Pivcevic, Branka, Popovic, Marta, Mikac, Iva, Tollefsen, Knut Erik, Thomas, Kevin V. and Ahel, Marijan (2011). Assessment of toxicological profiles of the municipal wastewater effluents using chemical analyses and bioassays. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 74 (4), 844-851. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2010.11.010

Assessment of toxicological profiles of the municipal wastewater effluents using chemical analyses and bioassays

2011

Journal Article

Input of selected human pharmaceutical metabolites into the Norwegian aquatic environment

Langford, Katherine and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Input of selected human pharmaceutical metabolites into the Norwegian aquatic environment. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13 (2), 416-421. doi: 10.1039/c0em00342e

Input of selected human pharmaceutical metabolites into the Norwegian aquatic environment

2011

Journal Article

Uptake and effects of manufactured silver nanoparticles in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill cells

Farkas, Julia, Christian, Paul, Gallego-Urrea, Julian Alberto, Roos, Norbert, Hassellov, Martin, Tollefsen, Knut Erik and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Uptake and effects of manufactured silver nanoparticles in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill cells. Aquatic Toxicology, 101 (1), 117-125. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2010.09.010

Uptake and effects of manufactured silver nanoparticles in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill cells

2011

Conference Publication

Effects-directed analysis of sediments from polluted marine sites in Norway

Grung, Merete, Naes, Kristoffer, Fogelberg, Oscar, Nilsen, Anja Julie, Brack, Werner, Luebcke-von Varel, Urte and Thomas, Kevin V. (2011). Effects-directed analysis of sediments from polluted marine sites in Norway. 3rd Norwegian Environmental Toxicology Symposium, Bergen, Norway, 14 - 16 April 2010. New York, NY, United States: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.550555

Effects-directed analysis of sediments from polluted marine sites in Norway

2011

Conference Publication

Effects of dispersed aggregates of carbon and titanium dioxide engineered nanoparticles on rainbow trout hepatocytes

Thomas, Kevin V., Farkas, Julia, Farmen, Eivind, Christian, Paul, Langford, Katherine, Wu, Quinglan and Tollefsen, Knut-Erik (2011). Effects of dispersed aggregates of carbon and titanium dioxide engineered nanoparticles on rainbow trout hepatocytes. 3rd Norwegian Environmental Toxicology Symposium, Bergen, Norway, 14 - 16 April 2010. New York, NY, United States: Taylor & Francis. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.550557

Effects of dispersed aggregates of carbon and titanium dioxide engineered nanoparticles on rainbow trout hepatocytes

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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