Overview
Background
Professor Kevin Thomas is Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS). Kevin is an environmental health scientist with a particular interest in understanding the environmental exposures associated with contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) with the goal of protecting environmental and human health. Kevin also leads the Minderoo Centre- Plastics and Human Health at UQ and is Deputy-Director of the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Hyphenated Analytical Separation Technologies (HyTech).
His current research is focused on understanding human exposure to plastics pollution and developing mass spectrometric analytical methods for characterizing plastics and other CECs, assessing community-wide health status through analysing wastewater (wastewater-based epidemiology) and establishing alternative approaches to exposure monitoring, for example explanted silicone prostheses and wristbands.
Author of over 350 peer-reviewed papers Kevin is a strong collaborative researcher having co-founded the Plastic Measurement Brains Trust (PMBT).
Availability
- Professor Kevin Thomas is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Plymouth University
- Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), Plymouth University
Works
Search Professor Kevin Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
Effect-based water quality assessment in an urban tributary under base flow and storm conditions
Rauert, Cassandra, König, Maria, Neale, Peta A., Thomas, Kevin V. and Escher, Beate I. (2024). Effect-based water quality assessment in an urban tributary under base flow and storm conditions. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 11 (12), 1314-1320. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00866
2024
Journal Article
Unscrambling why plastics aren't detectable in chicken eggs
Tariq, Anum, Okoffo, Elvis D., Fenti, Angelo, Fu, Hongrui and Thomas, Kevin V. (2024). Unscrambling why plastics aren't detectable in chicken eggs. Chemosphere, 367 143584, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.143584
2024
Journal Article
Occurrence of ultrashort-chain PFASs in Australian environmental water samples
Ghorbani Gorji, Sara, Mackie, Rachel, Prasad, Pritesh, Knight, Emma R., Qu, Xuan, Vardy, Suzanne, Bowles, Karl, Higgins, Christopher P., Thomas, Kevin V. and Kaserzon, Sarit L. (2024). Occurrence of ultrashort-chain PFASs in Australian environmental water samples. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 11 (12), 1362-1369. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00750
2024
Journal Article
How do plastics, including microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals, affect human health?
Seewoo, Bhedita J., Goodes, Louise M., Thomas, Kevin V., Rauert, Cassandra, Elagali, Ahmed, Ponsonby, Anne-Louise, Symeonides, Christos and Dunlop, Sarah A. (2024). How do plastics, including microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals, affect human health?. Nature Medicine, 30 (11), 3036-3037. doi: 10.1038/s41591-024-03287-x
2024
Journal Article
Plastic deposition in sediments of Moreton Bay, Australia: a historical perspective and potential future projections
Yenney, Emma, Okoffo, Elvis D., Tscharke, Ben J., Grinham, Alistair, Bostock, Helen C. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2024). Plastic deposition in sediments of Moreton Bay, Australia: a historical perspective and potential future projections. ACS ES&T Water, 4 (10), 4510-4520. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.4c00536
2024
Journal Article
Fluoropolymer sorbent for efficient and selective capturing of per- and polyfluorinated compounds
Yang, Zhuojing, Zhu, Yutong, Tan, Xiao, Gunjal, Samruddhi Jayendra Jayendra, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Wang, Yiqing, Xin, Ruijing, Fu, Changkui, Liu, Kehan, Macintosh, Katie, Sprague, Lee G., Leung, Lam, Hopkins, Timothy E., Thomas, Kevin V., Guo, Jianhua, Whittaker, Andrew K. and Zhang, Cheng (2024). Fluoropolymer sorbent for efficient and selective capturing of per- and polyfluorinated compounds. Nature Communications, 15 (1) 8269, 1-10. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-52690-y
2024
Journal Article
Plastic pollution and health metrics in wild juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two Ecuadorian national parks: Galápagos and Machalilla
Muñoz-Pérez, Juan Pablo, Lewbart, Gregory A., Toapanta, Tania, Chadwick, Helen, Okoffo, Elvis D., Alarcón-Ruales, Daniela, Zurita-Arthos, Leo, Jones, Jen S., Cisneros, Fernando, Moreira-Mendieta, Andres, Vintimilla-Palacios, Cristina, Miranda, Cristina, Vallejo, Felipe, Houck, Emma, Alemán, Rubén, Escobar-Flores, Kamila, Skehel, Alice, Castañeda, Jason, Secoura, Patricia, Vaden, Shelly, Lewis, Ceri, Galloway, Tamara, Wallace, Bryan, Godley, Brendan J., Cole, Matthew, Lindeque, Penelope, Thomas, Kevin V., Potvin, Dominique A., Valle, Carlos A. and Townsend, Kathy A. (2024). Plastic pollution and health metrics in wild juvenile green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) from two Ecuadorian national parks: Galápagos and Machalilla. Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science, 2 1439512, 1-30. doi: 10.3389/famrs.2024.1439512
2024
Journal Article
High throughput and sensitive quantitation of tobacco-specific alkaloids and nitrosamines in wastewater
Wang, Zhe, Zheng, Qiuda, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Li, Jinglong, O'Brien, Jake W., Patterson, Brad, Zhao, Zeyang, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2024). High throughput and sensitive quantitation of tobacco-specific alkaloids and nitrosamines in wastewater. Talanta, 277 126401, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2024.126401
2024
Journal Article
Preparation of polystyrene microplastic particles by solvent-dissolution-precipitation
Karanam, Kavitha, Okoffo, Elvis D., Shukla, Pradeep, Thomas, Kevin.V. and Rudolph, Victor (2024). Preparation of polystyrene microplastic particles by solvent-dissolution-precipitation. Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, 7 100144, 100144. doi: 10.1016/j.scenv.2024.100144
2024
Journal Article
Exploring the chemical subspace of RPLC: a data driven approach
van Herwerden, Denice, Nikolopoulos, Alexandros, Barron, Leon P., O’Brien, Jake W., Pirok, Bob W.J., Thomas, Kevin V. and Samanipour, Saer (2024). Exploring the chemical subspace of RPLC: a data driven approach. Analytica Chimica Acta, 1317 342869, 342869. doi: 10.1016/j.aca.2024.342869
2024
Journal Article
Exploring the chemical space of the exposome: how far have we gone?
Samanipour, Saer, Barron, Leon Patrick, van Herwerden, Denice, Praetorius, Antonia, Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake William (2024). Exploring the chemical space of the exposome: how far have we gone?. JACS Au, 4 (7), 2412-2425. doi: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00220
2024
Journal Article
Limited exposure of captive Australian marsupials to plastics
Okoffo, Elvis D., Lu, Wei-Cheng, Yenney, Emma and Thomas, Kevin V. (2024). Limited exposure of captive Australian marsupials to plastics. Science of The Total Environment, 930 172716, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172716
2024
Journal Article
Seven-years of alcohol consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis: exploring patterns by remoteness and socioeconomic factors
Tscharke, Ben, Livingston, Michael, O'Brien, Jake W., Bade, Richard, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F., Hall, Wayne, Simpson, Bradley S., Jaunay, Emma, Gerber, Cobus, White, Jason M. and Thai, Phong K. (2024). Seven-years of alcohol consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis: exploring patterns by remoteness and socioeconomic factors. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 259 111317, 111317. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111317
2024
Journal Article
Workflow to facilitate the detection of new psychoactive substances and drugs of abuse in influent urban wastewater
Bade, Richard, van Herwerden, Denice, Rousis, Nikolaos, Adhikari, Sangeet, Allen, Darren, Baduel, Christine, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Boogaerts, Tim, Burgard, Dan, Chappell, Andrew, Driver, Erin M., Sodre, Fernando Fabriz, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Gracia-Lor, Emma, Gracia-Marín, Elisa, Halden, Rolf U., Heath, Ester, Jaunay, Emma, Krotulski, Alex, Lai, Foon Yin, Löve, Arndís Sue Ching, O’Brien, Jake W., Oh, Jeong-Eun, Pasin, Daniel, Castro, Marco Pineda, Psichoudaki, Magda, Salgueiro-Gonzalez, Noelia, Gomes, Cezar Silvino, Subedi, Bikram ... Mueller, Jochen (2024). Workflow to facilitate the detection of new psychoactive substances and drugs of abuse in influent urban wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 469 133955, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133955
2024
Journal Article
Mass quantification of nanoplastics at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Okoffo, Elvis D. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2024). Mass quantification of nanoplastics at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Water Research, 254 121397, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121397
2024
Journal Article
UV sources and plastic composition influence microplastic surface degradation: implications for plastic weathering studies
Burrows, Stephen, Colwell, John, Costanzo, Sarah, Kaserzon, Sarit, Okoffo, Elvis, Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Stacey, Toapanta, Tania, Rauert, Cassandra, Thomas, Kevin V. and Galloway, Tamara (2024). UV sources and plastic composition influence microplastic surface degradation: implications for plastic weathering studies. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 14 100428, 100428. doi: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100428
2024
Other Outputs
Hazard identification of Coal Seam Gas (CSG) additives with potential for community human health impacts
Rigby, Siobhan F., Mackie, Rachel, Van Niekerk, Sean, Li, Jiaying, Grant, Sharon and Thomas, Kevin V. (2024). Hazard identification of Coal Seam Gas (CSG) additives with potential for community human health impacts. Brisbane, Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/dc20cee
2024
Journal Article
Blueprint for the design, construction, and validation of a plastic and phthalate-minimised laboratory
Rauert, Cassandra, Wang, Xianyu, Charlton, Nathan, Lin, Chun-Yin, Tang, Cheng, Zammit, Ian, Jayarathne, Ayomi, Symeonides, Christos, White, Emily, Christensen, Michael, Ponomariova, Valentina, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Dunlop, Sarah (2024). Blueprint for the design, construction, and validation of a plastic and phthalate-minimised laboratory. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 468 133803, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133803
2024
Journal Article
Enhanced estimation of the prevalence of treated mental health disorders by wastewater-based epidemiology
Ahmed, Fahad, Boogaerts, Tim, Bowes, Devin A., van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., Covaci, Adrian, Hall, Wayne, Connor, Jason P. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2024). Enhanced estimation of the prevalence of treated mental health disorders by wastewater-based epidemiology. Nature Mental Health, 2 (4), 345-347. doi: 10.1038/s44220-024-00222-4
2024
Journal Article
Deep dive into the chronic toxicity of tyre particle mixtures and their leachates
Boisseaux, Paul, Rauert, Cassandra, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Delignette-Muller, Marie-Laure, Barrett, Robyn, Durndell, Lee, Pohl, Florian, Thompson, Richard, Thomas, Kevin V. and Galloway, Tamara (2024). Deep dive into the chronic toxicity of tyre particle mixtures and their leachates. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 466 133580, 133580. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133580
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
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
PM2.5 and plastics pollution in Delhi: Sources, characterization and atmospheric transport modeling
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing dietary exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics
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
Cross regional comparison of emerging contaminants in urban catchments
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing microplastic inputs from ships
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo, 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
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 Cassandra Rauert, Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan
-
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
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
Doctor Philosophy
The fate of plastics in soils
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Reducing glyphosate exposure from high use practices
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Professor Bhagirath Chauhan, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure and accumulation of plastics
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
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
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating degradation levels and their potential impact on the quantification of microplastics in the environment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastic Pollution in Water Systems: Issues and Treatment
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jianhua Guo
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastics in the air: Working towards understanding micro plastics in the atmospheric environment, the plastic exposome and human respiratory exposure
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Antibiotics and other chemicals that select for antimicrobial resistance in Australian wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Advancing the non-target identification of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in environmental samples
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Ian Wood, Dr Jake O'Brien, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the suitability of wastewater analysis for the detection and monitoring of performance- and image-enhancing drug use
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of plastic contamination in marine organisms
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of analgesic consumption and the burden of treated pain in Australia using wastewater-based epidemiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Fate and behaviour of neonicotinoids in Australian aquatic environments
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2025
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating use of nicotine containing products and evaluating tobacco-related health risks through wastewater analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Improved monitoring of hydrophilic aquatic contaminants.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluation and Implementation of Methods to increase Comprehensiveness of Non-Target Analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Innovative sampling strategies for improved wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Dr Ben Tscharke
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of alcohol and tobacco consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Ben Tscharke, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Firefighters' exposure to potentially toxic combustion products.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Professor Jochen Mueller
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Population diet and stress estimates using wastewater based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jochen Mueller
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastic pollution: From nanoscale surface interactions to public perceptions
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Kevin Thomas directly for media enquiries about:
- Aquatic pollution
- chemical pollution
- Illicit drug monitoring in wastewater
- Microplastics
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: