Professor Kevin Thomas
Professor

Kevin Thomas

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 32443

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

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

418 works between 1995 and 2026
All (418) Journal Article (372) Other Outputs (5) Conference Publication (30) Book Chapter (11)

121 - 140 of 418 works

2022

Journal Article

A nationwide wastewater-based assessment of metformin consumption across Australia

Yang, Dan, Zheng, Qiuda, Thai, Phong, Ahmed, Fahad, O'Brien, Jake W., Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Tscharke, Ben (2022). A nationwide wastewater-based assessment of metformin consumption across Australia. Environment International, 165 107282, 107282. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107282

A nationwide wastewater-based assessment of metformin consumption across Australia

2022

Journal Article

Direct injection analysis of oxypurinol and metformin in wastewater by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Zheng, Qiuda, Dewapriya, Pradeep, Eaglesham, Geoff, Reeks, Tim, Thompson, Jack, Ahmed, Fahad, Prasad, Pritesh, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2022). Direct injection analysis of oxypurinol and metformin in wastewater by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Drug Testing and Analysis, 14 (8), 1519-1524. doi: 10.1002/dta.3266

Direct injection analysis of oxypurinol and metformin in wastewater by hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

2022

Journal Article

Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids

Okoffo, Elvis D., O'Brien, Stacey, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Rauert, Cassandra, Rødland, Elisabeth S., Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids. Science of The Total Environment, 811 152382, 152382. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152382

Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids

2022

Journal Article

One planet: one health. A call to support the initiative on a global science–policy body on chemicals and waste

Brack, Werner, Barcelo Culleres, Damia, Boxall, Alistair B. A., Budzinski, Hélène, Castiglioni, Sara, Covaci, Adrian, Dulio, Valeria, Escher, Beate I., Fantke, Peter, Kandie, Faith, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Hernández, Félix J., Hilscherová, Klara, Hollender, Juliane, Hollert, Henner, Jahnke, Annika, Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara, Khan, Stuart J., Kortenkamp, Andreas, Kümmerer, Klaus, Lalonde, Brice, Lamoree, Marja H., Levi, Yves, Lara Martín, Pablo Antonio, Montagner, Cassiana C., Mougin, Christian, Msagati, Titus, Oehlmann, Jörg, Posthuma, Leo ... Zuccato, Ettore (2022). One planet: one health. A call to support the initiative on a global science–policy body on chemicals and waste. Environmental Sciences Europe, 34 (1) 21, 21. doi: 10.1186/s12302-022-00602-6

One planet: one health. A call to support the initiative on a global science–policy body on chemicals and waste

2022

Journal Article

In situ calibration of passive samplers for viruses in wastewater

Li, Jiaying, Verhagen, Rory, Ahmed, Warish, Metcalfe, Suzanne, Thai, Phong K., Kaserzon, Sarit L., Smith, Wendy J. M., Schang, Christelle, Simpson, Stuart L., Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Mccarthy, David (2022). In situ calibration of passive samplers for viruses in wastewater. ACS ES&T Water, 2 (11) acsestwater.1c00406, 1881-1890. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00406

In situ calibration of passive samplers for viruses in wastewater

2022

Journal Article

Phthalate esters in face masks and associated inhalation exposure risk

Wang, Xianyu, Okoffo, Elvis D., Banks, Andrew P. W., Li, Yan, Thomas, Kevin V., Rauert, Cassandra, Aylward, Lesa L. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2022). Phthalate esters in face masks and associated inhalation exposure risk. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 423 (Pt A) 127001, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127001

Phthalate esters in face masks and associated inhalation exposure risk

2022

Journal Article

A novel method for the quantification of tire and polymer-modified bitumen particles in environmental samples by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy

Rødland, Elisabeth S., Samanipour, Saer, Rauert, Cassandra, Okoffo, Elvis D., Reid, Malcom J., Heier, Lene S., Lind, Ole Christian, Thomas, Kevin V. and Meland, Sondre (2022). A novel method for the quantification of tire and polymer-modified bitumen particles in environmental samples by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 423 (Pt A) 127092, 127092. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127092

A novel method for the quantification of tire and polymer-modified bitumen particles in environmental samples by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy

2022

Journal Article

Naive Bayes classification model for isotopologue detection in LC-HRMS data

van Herwerden, Denice, O'Brien, Jake W., Choi, Phil M., Thomas, Kevin V., Schoenmakers, Peter J. and Samanipour, Saer (2022). Naive Bayes classification model for isotopologue detection in LC-HRMS data. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 223 104515, 104515. doi: 10.1016/j.chemolab.2022.104515

Naive Bayes classification model for isotopologue detection in LC-HRMS data

2022

Journal Article

Concentrations of tire additive chemicals and tire road wear particles in an Australian urban tributary

Rauert, Cassandra, Charlton, Nathan, Okoffo, Elvis D., Stanton, Ryan S., Agua, Alon R., Pirrung, Michael C. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Concentrations of tire additive chemicals and tire road wear particles in an Australian urban tributary. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (4), 2421-2431. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07451

Concentrations of tire additive chemicals and tire road wear particles in an Australian urban tributary

2022

Journal Article

In-sewer stability assessment of anabolic steroids and selective androgen receptor modulators

Shimko, Katja M., O’Brien, Jake W., Li, Jiaying, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Brooker, Lance, Thai, Phong K., Choi, Phil M., Samanipour, Saer and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). In-sewer stability assessment of anabolic steroids and selective androgen receptor modulators. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (3) acs.est.1c03047, 1627-1638. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c03047

In-sewer stability assessment of anabolic steroids and selective androgen receptor modulators

2022

Journal Article

Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance

Ahmed, Warish, Simpson, Stuart L., Bertsch, Paul M., Bibby, Kyle, Bivins, Aaron, Blackall, Linda L., Bofill-Mas, Sílvia, Bosch, Albert, Brandão, João, Choi, Phil M., Ciesielski, Mark, Donner, Erica, D'Souza, Nishita, Farnleitner, Andreas H., Gerrity, Daniel, Gonzalez, Raul, Griffith, John F., Gyawali, Pradip, Haas, Charles N., Hamilton, Kerry A., Hapuarachchi, Hapuarachchige Chanditha, Harwood, Valerie J., Haque, Rehnuma, Jackson, Greg, Khan, Stuart J., Khan, Wesaal, Kitajima, Masaaki, Korajkic, Asja, La Rosa, Giuseppina ... Shanks, Orin C. (2022). Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance. Science of the Total Environment, 805 149877, 149877. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149877

Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance

2022

Journal Article

A wastewater‐based assessment of the impact of a minimum unit price on population alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, Australia

O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Bade, Richard, Chan, Gary, Gerber, Cobus, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Hall, Wayne D. (2022). A wastewater‐based assessment of the impact of a minimum unit price on population alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, Australia. Addiction, 117 (1), 243-249. doi: 10.1111/add.15631

A wastewater‐based assessment of the impact of a minimum unit price on population alcohol consumption in the Northern Territory, Australia

2022

Journal Article

Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content

Rauert, Cassandra, Pan, Yufei, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content. Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, 1 (2) 13, 13-2. doi: 10.20517/jeea.2022.04

Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content

2022

Journal Article

Wastewater surveillance demonstrates high predictive value for COVID-19 infection on board repatriation flights to Australia

Ahmed, Warish, Bivins, Aaron, Simpson, Stuart L., Bertsch, Paul M., Ehret, John, Hosegood, Ian, Metcalfe, Suzanne S., Smith, Wendy J.M., Thomas, Kevin V., Tynan, Josh and Mueller, Jochen F. (2022). Wastewater surveillance demonstrates high predictive value for COVID-19 infection on board repatriation flights to Australia. Environment International, 158 106938, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106938

Wastewater surveillance demonstrates high predictive value for COVID-19 infection on board repatriation flights to Australia

2021

Journal Article

Understanding the plastics cycle to minimize exposure

Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Understanding the plastics cycle to minimize exposure. Nature Sustainability, 5 (4), 282-284. doi: 10.1038/s41893-021-00814-3

Understanding the plastics cycle to minimize exposure

2021

Journal Article

From centroided to profile mode: machine learning for prediction of peak width in HRMS data

Samanipour, Saer, Choi, Phil, O’Brien, Jake W., Pirok, Bob W. J., Reid, Malcolm J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). From centroided to profile mode: machine learning for prediction of peak width in HRMS data. Analytical Chemistry, 93 (49), 16562-16570. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c03755

From centroided to profile mode: machine learning for prediction of peak width in HRMS data

2021

Conference Publication

Sorption and desorption affinity of 45 per- and poly- fluorinated substances (PFASs) with 11 sorbent phases: implications for passive sampling

Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Mackie, Rachel, Hawker, Darryl, Li, Yan, Higgins, Christopher, Bowles, Karl, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin and Kaserzon, Sarit (2021). Sorption and desorption affinity of 45 per- and poly- fluorinated substances (PFASs) with 11 sorbent phases: implications for passive sampling. 12th International Passive Sampling Workshop, Virtual, 4-5 November 2021.

Sorption and desorption affinity of 45 per- and poly- fluorinated substances (PFASs) with 11 sorbent phases: implications for passive sampling

2021

Journal Article

Assessment of environmental pollution and human exposure to pesticides by wastewater analysis in a seven-year study in athens, greece

Rousis, Nikolaos I., Denardou, Maria, Alygizakis, Nikiforos, Galani, Aikaterini, Bletsou, Anna A., Damalas, Dimitrios E., Maragou, Niki C., Thomas, Kevin V. and Thomaidis, Nikolaos S. (2021). Assessment of environmental pollution and human exposure to pesticides by wastewater analysis in a seven-year study in athens, greece. Toxics, 9 (10) 260, 260. doi: 10.3390/toxics9100260

Assessment of environmental pollution and human exposure to pesticides by wastewater analysis in a seven-year study in athens, greece

2021

Journal Article

Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology

Shimko, Katja M., Piatkowski, Timothy, Thomas, Kevin V., Speers, Naomi, Brooker, Lance, Tscharke, Ben J. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2021). Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 419 126340, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126340

Performance- and image-enhancing drug use in the community: use prevalence, user demographics and the potential role of wastewater-based epidemiology

2021

Journal Article

Current and future perspectives for wastewater-based epidemiology as a monitoring tool for pharmaceutical use

Boogaerts, Tim, Ahmed, Fahad, Choi, Phil.M, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, De Loof, Hans, Gao, Jianfa, Thai, Phong, Thomas, Kevin, Mueller, Jochen F., Hall, Wayne, Covaci, Adrian and van Nuijs, Alexander L.N. (2021). Current and future perspectives for wastewater-based epidemiology as a monitoring tool for pharmaceutical use. Science of the Total Environment, 789 148047, 148047. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148047

Current and future perspectives for wastewater-based epidemiology as a monitoring tool for pharmaceutical use

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
  • 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 dietary exposure to plastics and associated chemicals

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cross regional comparison of emerging contaminants in urban catchments

    Principal Advisor

  • 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

  • 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

    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

    Microplastics pollution in water systems: Issues and Treatment

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Elvis Okoffo

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Developing the framework for a national wastewater antimicrobial resistance and antimicrobial use surveillance method

    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

    Emerging contaminants in Food Organics and Garden Organic (FOGO) materials

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human exposure and accumulation of plastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Human exposure and fate of micro/nanoplastics

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert, Dr Taskeen Janjua Khan

  • 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

    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

    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

    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

    Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: 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

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au