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

440 works between 1995 and 2026
All (440) Journal Article (394) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (11)

361 - 380 of 440 works

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

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

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

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

Book Chapter

Effect-directed analysis of endocrine disruptors in aquatic ecosystems

Houtman, Corine J., Legler, Juliette and Thomas, Kevin (2011). Effect-directed analysis of endocrine disruptors in aquatic ecosystems. Effect-directed analysis of complex environmental contamination. (pp. 237-265) edited by Werner Brack. Berlin, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-18384-3_10

Effect-directed analysis of endocrine disruptors in aquatic ecosystems

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

2010

Book Chapter

Point sources of human pharmaceuticals into the aquatic environment

Thomas, Kevin V. and Langford, Katherine H. (2010). Point sources of human pharmaceuticals into the aquatic environment. Green and Sustainable Pharmacy. (pp. 211-223) Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-05199-9_14

Point sources of human pharmaceuticals into the aquatic environment

2010

Journal Article

Cytotoxicity of atorvastatin and simvastatin on primary rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

Ellesat, Kathrin Sabine, Tollefsen, Knut-Erik, Asberg, Anders, Thomas, Kevin V. and Hylland, Ketil (2010). Cytotoxicity of atorvastatin and simvastatin on primary rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes. Toxicology in Vitro, 24 (6), 1610-1618. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2010.06.006

Cytotoxicity of atorvastatin and simvastatin on primary rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

2010

Journal Article

Diurnal variations in the occurrence and the fate of hormones and antibiotics in activated sludge wastewater treatment in Oslo, Norway

Plosz, Benedek Gy., Leknes, Henriette, Liltved, Helge and Thomas, Kevin V. (2010). Diurnal variations in the occurrence and the fate of hormones and antibiotics in activated sludge wastewater treatment in Oslo, Norway. Science of the Total Environment, 408 (8), 1915-1924. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.042

Diurnal variations in the occurrence and the fate of hormones and antibiotics in activated sludge wastewater treatment in Oslo, Norway

2010

Journal Article

Effects of silver and gold nanoparticles on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

Farkas, Julia, Christian, Paul, Urrea, Julian Alberto Gallego, Roos, Norbert, Hassellov, Martin, Tollefsen, Knut Erik and Thomas, Kevin V. (2010). Effects of silver and gold nanoparticles on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes. Aquatic Toxicology, 96 (1), 44-52. doi: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2009.09.016

Effects of silver and gold nanoparticles on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

2010

Journal Article

Impacts of competitive inhibition, parent compound formation and partitioning behavior on the removal of antibiotics in municipal wastewater treatment

Plosz, Benedek Gy., Leknes, Henriette and Thomas, Kevin V. (2010). Impacts of competitive inhibition, parent compound formation and partitioning behavior on the removal of antibiotics in municipal wastewater treatment. Environmental Science & Technology, 44 (2), 734-742. doi: 10.1021/es902264w

Impacts of competitive inhibition, parent compound formation and partitioning behavior on the removal of antibiotics in municipal wastewater treatment

2010

Journal Article

The environmental fate and effects of antifouling paint biocides

Thomas, K. V. and Brooks, S. (2010). The environmental fate and effects of antifouling paint biocides. Biofouling, 26 (1), 73-88. doi: 10.1080/08927010903216564

The environmental fate and effects of antifouling paint biocides

2009

Book Chapter

Europe and USA

Thomas, Kevin V. and Langford, Katherine H. (2009). Europe and USA. Ecotoxicology of Antifouling Biocides. (pp. 331-344) Tokyo: Springer Japan. doi: 10.1007/978-4-431-85709-9_19

Europe and USA

2009

Book Chapter

The analysis of antifouling paint biocides in water, sediment and biota

Thomas, Kevin V. and Langford, Katherine H. (2009). The analysis of antifouling paint biocides in water, sediment and biota. Ecotoxicology of Antifouling Biocides. (pp. 311-327) Tokyo: Springer Japan. doi: 10.1007/978-4-431-85709-9_18

The analysis of antifouling paint biocides in water, sediment and biota

2009

Journal Article

Small but different effect of fouling on the uptake rates of semipermeable membrane devices and polar organic chemical integrative samplers

Harman, Christopher, Boyum, Olav, Thomas, Kevin V. and Grung, Merete (2009). Small but different effect of fouling on the uptake rates of semipermeable membrane devices and polar organic chemical integrative samplers. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28 (11), 2324-2332. doi: 10.1897/09-090.S1

Small but different effect of fouling on the uptake rates of semipermeable membrane devices and polar organic chemical integrative samplers

2009

Journal Article

Effect-directed identification of naphthenic acids as important in vitro xeno-estrogens and anti-androgens in North Sea offshore produced water discharges

Thomas, K. V., Langford, K., Petersen, K., Smith, A. J. and Tollefsen, K. E. (2009). Effect-directed identification of naphthenic acids as important in vitro xeno-estrogens and anti-androgens in North Sea offshore produced water discharges. Environmental Science & Technology, 43 (21), 8066-8071. doi: 10.1021/es9014212

Effect-directed identification of naphthenic acids as important in vitro xeno-estrogens and anti-androgens in North Sea offshore produced water discharges

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

    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

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

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding emerging contaminants and metabolomic responses in Australian seabird species

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Fisher Wang

  • Doctor Philosophy

    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

    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

    Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

  • 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

    The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance

    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

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

    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 accumulation of plastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

    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

    Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan, 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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