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 300 peer-reviewed papers and Associate Editor for the journal Science of the Total Environment, Kevin is a strong collaborative researcher having founded the international SCORE network on sewer biomarker analysis for community health assessment (see www.score-network.eu) and together with colleagues has recently launched InSpectra- A platform for identifying emerging chemical threats.

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

391 works between 1995 and 2025
All (391) Journal Article (351) Book Chapter (10) Conference Publication (25) Other Outputs (5)

161 - 180 of 391 works

2020

Journal Article

Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

Ribeiro, Francisca, Okoffo, Elvis D., O'Brien, Jake W., Fraissinet-Tachet, Sarah, O'Brien, Stacey, Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Mueller, Jochen F., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology, 54 (15) acs.est.0c02337, 9408-9417. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02337

Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry

2020

Journal Article

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in commercial passenger aircraft and cruise ship wastewater: a surveillance tool for assessing the presence of COVID-19 infected travelers

Ahmed, Warish, Bertsch, Paul M., Angel, Nicola, Bibby, Kyle, Bivins, Aaron, Dierens, Leanne, Edson, Janette, Ehret, John, Gyawali, Pradip, Hamilton, Kerry, Hosegood, Ian, Hugenholtz, Philip, Jiang, Guangming, Kitajima, Masaaki, Sichani, Homa T., Shi, Jiahua, Shimko, Katja M., Simpson, Stuart L., Smith, Wendy J. M., Symonds, Erin M., Thomas, Kevin V., Verhagen, Rory, Zaugg, Julian and Mueller, Jochen F (2020). Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in commercial passenger aircraft and cruise ship wastewater: a surveillance tool for assessing the presence of COVID-19 infected travelers. Journal of Travel Medicine, 27 (5) taaa116, 1-11. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa116

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in commercial passenger aircraft and cruise ship wastewater: a surveillance tool for assessing the presence of COVID-19 infected travelers

2020

Journal Article

Population socioeconomics predicted using wastewater

Choi, Phil M., O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben J., Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Samanipour, Saer (2020). Population socioeconomics predicted using wastewater. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 7 (8) acs.estlett.0c00392, 567-572. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00392

Population socioeconomics predicted using wastewater

2020

Journal Article

Assessment of human exposure to selected pesticides in Norway by wastewater analysis

Rousis, Nikolaos I., Gracia-Lor, Emma, Reid, Malcolm J., Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Ryu, Yeonsuk, Zuccato, Ettore, Thomas, Kevin V. and Castiglioni, Sara (2020). Assessment of human exposure to selected pesticides in Norway by wastewater analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 723 138132, 138132. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138132

Assessment of human exposure to selected pesticides in Norway by wastewater analysis

2020

Journal Article

Enantiomeric profiling of quinolones and quinolones resistance gene qnrS in European wastewaters

Castrignanò, Erika, Yang, Zhugen, Feil, Edward J., Bade, Richard, Castiglioni, Sara, Causanilles, Ana, Gracia-Lor, Emma, Hernandez, Felix, Plósz, Benedek G., Ramin, Pedram, Rousis, Nikolaos I., Ryu, Yeonsuk, Thomas, Kevin V., de Voogt, Pim, Zuccato, Ettore and Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara (2020). Enantiomeric profiling of quinolones and quinolones resistance gene qnrS in European wastewaters. Water Research, 175 115653, 115653. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115653

Enantiomeric profiling of quinolones and quinolones resistance gene qnrS in European wastewaters

2020

Journal Article

A revised excretion factor for estimating ketamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology – utilising wastewater and seizure data

Du, Peng, Zheng, Qiuda, Thomas, Kevin V., Li, Xiqing and Thai, Phong K. (2020). A revised excretion factor for estimating ketamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology – utilising wastewater and seizure data. Environment International, 138 105645, 105645. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105645

A revised excretion factor for estimating ketamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology – utilising wastewater and seizure data

2020

Journal Article

Identification and quantification of selected plastics in biosolids by pressurized liquid extraction combined with double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Okoffo, Elvis D., Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Jake W., O'Brien, Stacey, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Identification and quantification of selected plastics in biosolids by pressurized liquid extraction combined with double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Science of the Total Environment, 715 136924, 1. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136924

Identification and quantification of selected plastics in biosolids by pressurized liquid extraction combined with double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

2020

Journal Article

Correction: Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from seven years of international wastewater (vol 115, pg 109, 2020)

Gonzalez-Marino, Iria, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Alygizakis, Nikiforos A., Andres-Costa, Maria Jesus, Bade, Richard, Bannwarth, Anne, Barron, Leon P., Been, Frederic, Benaglia, Lisa, Berset, Jean-Daniel, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Bodik, Igor, Brenner, Asher, Brock, Andreas L., Burgard, Daniel A., Castrignano, Erika, Celma, Alberto, Christophoridis, Christophoros E., Covaci, Adrian, Delemont, Olivier, de Voogt, Pim, Devault, Damien A., Dias, Mario J., Emke, Erik, Esseiva, Pierre, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Fedorova, Ganna, Fytianos, Konstantinos, Gerber, Cobus ... Ort, Christoph (2020). Correction: Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from seven years of international wastewater (vol 115, pg 109, 2020). Addiction, 115 (5), 994-996. doi: 10.1111/add.15016

Correction: Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from seven years of international wastewater (vol 115, pg 109, 2020)

2020

Journal Article

Do food and stress biomarkers work for wastewater-based epidemiology? A critical evaluation

Choi, P.M., Bowes, D.A., O'Brien, J.W., Li, J., Halden, R.U., Jiang, G., Thomas, K.V. and Mueller, J.F. (2020). Do food and stress biomarkers work for wastewater-based epidemiology? A critical evaluation. Science of The Total Environment, 736 139654, 139654. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139654

Do food and stress biomarkers work for wastewater-based epidemiology? A critical evaluation

2020

Journal Article

Wastewater-based estimation of the prevalence of gout in Australia

Ahmed, Fahad, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, Thompson, Jack, Samanipour, Saer, Choi, Phil, Li, Jiaying, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin (2020). Wastewater-based estimation of the prevalence of gout in Australia. Science of The Total Environment, 715 136925, 136925. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136925

Wastewater-based estimation of the prevalence of gout in Australia

2020

Journal Article

Considerations for assessing stability of wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers using biofilm-free and sewer reactor tests

Choi, Phil Min, Li, Jiaying, Gao, Jianfa, O'Brien, Jake William, Thomas, Kevin Victor, Thai, Phong Khanh, Jiang, Guangming and Mueller, Jochen Friedrich (2020). Considerations for assessing stability of wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers using biofilm-free and sewer reactor tests. Science of The Total Environment, 709 136228, 136228. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136228

Considerations for assessing stability of wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers using biofilm-free and sewer reactor tests

2020

Journal Article

Concentration and distribution of naphthenic acids in the produced water from offshore Norwegian North Sea oilfields

Samanipour, Saer, Reid, Malcolm J., Rundberget, Jan Thomas, Frost, Tone K. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Concentration and distribution of naphthenic acids in the produced water from offshore Norwegian North Sea oilfields. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (5) acs.est.9b05784, 2707-2714. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.9b05784

Concentration and distribution of naphthenic acids in the produced water from offshore Norwegian North Sea oilfields

2020

Journal Article

New approach in the measurement of long-term alcohol consumption trends: application of wastewater-based epidemiology in an Australian regional city

Zheng, Qiuda, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Krapp, Catharina, O’Brien, Jake W., Mackie, Rachel S., Connor, Jason, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Thai, Phong K. (2020). New approach in the measurement of long-term alcohol consumption trends: application of wastewater-based epidemiology in an Australian regional city. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 207 107795, 107795. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107795

New approach in the measurement of long-term alcohol consumption trends: application of wastewater-based epidemiology in an Australian regional city

2020

Journal Article

Wastewater-based epidemiology: global collaborative to maximize contributions in the fight against COVID-19

Bivins, Aaron, North, Devin, Ahmad, Arslan, Ahmed, Warish, Alm, Eric, Been, Frederic, Bhattacharya, Prosun, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Boehm, Alexandria B., Brown, Joe, Buttiglieri, Gianluigi, Calabro, Vincenza, Carducci, Annalaura, Castiglioni, Sara, Cetecioglu Gurol, Zeynep, Chakraborty, Sudip, Costa, Federico, Curcio, Stefano, De Los Reyes, Francis L., Delgado Vela, Jeseth, Farkas, Kata, Fernandez-Casi, Xavier, Gerba, Charles, Gerrity, Daniel, Girones, Rosina, Gonzalez, Raul, Haramoto, Eiji, Harris, Angela, Holden, Patricia A. ... Bibby, Kyle (2020). Wastewater-based epidemiology: global collaborative to maximize contributions in the fight against COVID-19. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (13), 7754-7757. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02388

Wastewater-based epidemiology: global collaborative to maximize contributions in the fight against COVID-19

2019

Journal Article

Evaluating the stability of three oxidative stress biomarkers under sewer conditions and potential impact for use in wastewater-based epidemiology

O'Brien, Jake W., Choi, Phil M., Li, Jiaying, Thai, Phong K., Jiang, Guangming, Tscharke, Ben, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Evaluating the stability of three oxidative stress biomarkers under sewer conditions and potential impact for use in wastewater-based epidemiology. Water Research, 166 115068, 115068. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115068

Evaluating the stability of three oxidative stress biomarkers under sewer conditions and potential impact for use in wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Journal Article

New psychoactive substances: challenges for drug surveillance, control, and public health responses

Peacock, Amy, Bruno, Raimondo, Gisev, Natasa, Degenhardt, Louisa, Hall, Wayne, Sedefov, Roumen, White, Jason, Thomas, Kevin V, Farrell, Michael and Griffiths, Paul (2019). New psychoactive substances: challenges for drug surveillance, control, and public health responses. The Lancet, 394 (10209), 1668-1684. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(19)32231-7

New psychoactive substances: challenges for drug surveillance, control, and public health responses

2019

Journal Article

Social, demographic, and economic correlates of food and chemical consumption measured by wastewater-based epidemiology

Choi, Phil M., Tscharke, Benjamin, Samanipour, Saer, Hall, Wayne D., Gartner, Coral E., Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2019). Social, demographic, and economic correlates of food and chemical consumption measured by wastewater-based epidemiology. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116 (43), 201910242-21873. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1910242116

Social, demographic, and economic correlates of food and chemical consumption measured by wastewater-based epidemiology

2019

Journal Article

Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

González-Mariño, Iria, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Alygizakis, Nikiforos A., Andrés-Costa, Maria Jesús, Bade, Richard, Barron, Leon P., Been, Frederic, Berset, Jean-Daniel, Bijlsma, Lubertus, Bodík, Igor, Brenner, Asher, Brock, Andreas L., Burgard, Daniel A., Castrignanò, Erika, Christophoridis, Christophoros E., Covaci, Adrian, de Voogt, Pim, Devault, Damien A., Dias, Mário J., Emke, Erik, Fatta-Kassinos, Despo, Fedorova, Ganna, Fytianos, Konstantinos, Gerber, Cobus, Grabic, Roman, Grüner, Stefan, Gunnar, Teemu, Hapeshi, Evroula, Heath, Ester ... Ort, Christoph (2019). Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring. Addiction, 115 (1) add.14767, 109-120. doi: 10.1111/add.14767

Spatio-temporal assessment of illicit drug use at large scale: evidence from 7 years of international wastewater monitoring

2019

Journal Article

FTIR and Raman imaging for microplastics analysis: State of the art, challenges and prospects

Xu, Jun-Li, Thomas, Kevin V., Luo, Zisheng and Gowen, Aoife A. (2019). FTIR and Raman imaging for microplastics analysis: State of the art, challenges and prospects. TrAC - Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 119 115629. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2019.115629

FTIR and Raman imaging for microplastics analysis: State of the art, challenges and prospects

2019

Journal Article

Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate

Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, O'Brien, Stacey, O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 5 (11), 1908-1931. doi: 10.1039/c9ew00428a

Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate

Current 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
  • 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
  • 2022 - 2027
    ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and Biocomposites
    ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres
    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
  • 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

Past funding

  • 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 - 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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Available projects for prospective PhD students

    Projects are available arounf four broad themes.

    • 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

  • Available projects for prospective PhD students

    Projects are available around four broad themes.

    • 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

  • Innovative Analytical Techniques for Detecting and Quantifying Oligomers in Environmental Matrices

    Project summary: Develop and validate advanced analytical methods for the detection, identification, and quantification of oligomers in various environmental matrices.

  • Available projects for prospective PhD students

    Projects are available around four broad themes.

    • 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

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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