Overview
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
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Plymouth University
- Doctoral Diploma of Science (Advanced), Plymouth University
Works
Search Professor Kevin Thomas’s works on UQ eSpace
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
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
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
2021
Journal Article
Multisite calibration of a microporous polyethylene tube passive sampler for quantifying drugs in wastewater
Verhagen, Rory, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Clokey, Joseph, Gerber, Cobus, Ghetia, Maulik, Kaserzon, Sarit L., Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2021). Multisite calibration of a microporous polyethylene tube passive sampler for quantifying drugs in wastewater. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (19) acs.est.1c02900, 12922-12929. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02900
2021
Journal Article
Assessing patterns of illicit drug use in a Chinese city by analyzing daily wastewater samples over a one-year period
Zheng, Qiuda, Ren, Yuan, Wang, Zhe, Liu, Jinhua, Zhang, Yu, Lin, Wenting, Gao, Jianfa, Thomas, Kevin V. and Thai, Phong K. (2021). Assessing patterns of illicit drug use in a Chinese city by analyzing daily wastewater samples over a one-year period. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 417 125999, 125999. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125999
2021
Journal Article
In-sewer stability of selected analgesics and their metabolites
Ahmed, Fahad, Li, Jiaying, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Samanipour, Saer, Thai, Phong K., Yuan, Zhiguo, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). In-sewer stability of selected analgesics and their metabolites. Water Research, 204 117647, 117647. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117647
2021
Conference Publication
Calibration and application of MPT passive sampling for monitoring of PFAS in wastewater influent and effluent
Mackie, Rachel, Gorji, Sara, Hawker, Darryl, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin and Kaserzon, Sarit (2021). Calibration and application of MPT passive sampling for monitoring of PFAS in wastewater influent and effluent. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) Australasia Conference, Virtual, 30 August - 2 September 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust
O’Brien, Stacey, Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Rauert, Cassandra, O’Brien, Jake W., Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416 125811, 125811. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125811
2021
Journal Article
Impact of COVID-19 controls on the use of illicit drugs and alcohol in Australia
Bade, Richard, Tscharke, Benjamin J., O’Brien, Jake W., Magsarjav, Saranzaya, Humphries, Melissa, Ghetia, Maulik, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F., White, Jason M. and Gerber, Cobus (2021). Impact of COVID-19 controls on the use of illicit drugs and alcohol in Australia. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 8 (9), 799-804. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.1c00532
2021
Conference Publication
A global emerging contaminant early warning exercise through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry
Dewapriya, Pradeep, Jeon, Youngjoon, Feraud, Mathieu, O'Brien, Jake, Gorji, Sara Ghorbani, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit and Thomas, Kevin (2021). A global emerging contaminant early warning exercise through the use of retrospective suspect screening with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Australasia Conference, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 3 August-2 September 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Plastics contamination of store-bought rice
Dessì, Claudia, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W., Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Rauert, Cassandra, Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastics contamination of store-bought rice. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416 125778, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125778
2021
Journal Article
Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016
Okoffo, Elvis D., Donner, Erica, McGrath, Steve P., Tscharke, Benjamin J., O'Brien, Jake W., O'Brien, Stacey, Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Rauert, Cassandra, Samanipour, Saer, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016. Water Research, 201 117367, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117367
2021
Journal Article
Phthalate diversity in eggs and associations with oxidative stress in the European herring gull (Larus argentatus)
Allen, Simon F., Ellis, Francesca, Mitchell, Christopher, Wang, Xianyu, Boogert, Neeltje J., Lin, Chun-Yin, Clokey, Joseph, Thomas, Kevin V. and Blount, Jonathan D. (2021). Phthalate diversity in eggs and associations with oxidative stress in the European herring gull (Larus argentatus). Marine Pollution Bulletin, 169 112564, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112564
2021
Journal Article
Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia
Li, Dandan, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Okoffo, Elvis D., Mueller, Jochen F., Sun, Hongwen and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia. Water Research, 200 117237, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117237
2021
Journal Article
Influence of surface oxidation on the quantification of polypropylene microplastics by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry
Toapanta, Tania, Okoffo, Elvis D., Ede, Sarah, O'Brien, Stacey, Burrows, Stephen D., Ribeiro, Francisca, Gallen, Michael, Colwell, John, Whittaker, Andrew K., Kaserzon, Sarit and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Influence of surface oxidation on the quantification of polypropylene microplastics by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Science of the Total Environment, 796 148835, 148835. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148835
2021
Journal Article
Quantification of selected analgesics and their metabolites in influent wastewater by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry
Ahmed, Fahad, Tscharke, Benjamin, O’Brien, Jake W., Thompson, Jack, Zheng, Qiuda, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Quantification of selected analgesics and their metabolites in influent wastewater by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Talanta, 234 122627, 122627. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122627
2021
Journal Article
Systematic evaluation of the in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites in wastewater
Lin, Xialu, Choi, Phil M., Thompson, Jack, Reeks, Timothy, Verhagen, Rory, Tscharke, Benjamin J., O’Malley, Elissa, Shimko, Katja M., Guo, Xiong, Thomas, Kevin V. and O’Brien, Jake W. (2021). Systematic evaluation of the in-sample stability of selected pharmaceuticals, illicit drugs, and their metabolites in wastewater. Environmental Science and Technology, 55 (11) acs.est.1c00396, 7418-7429. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00396
2021
Journal Article
Off-gassing of semi-volatile organic compounds from fire-fighters’ uniforms in private vehicles—a pilot study
Banks, Andrew P. W., Wang, Xianyu, He, Chang, Gallen, Michael, Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2021). Off-gassing of semi-volatile organic compounds from fire-fighters’ uniforms in private vehicles—a pilot study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (6) 3030, 1-9. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18063030
2021
Journal Article
Wastewater-based prevalence trends of gout in an Australian community over a period of 8 years
Ahmed, Fahad, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake W., Zheng, Qiuda, Thompson, Jack, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Wastewater-based prevalence trends of gout in an Australian community over a period of 8 years. Science of the Total Environment, 759 143460, 143460. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143460
2021
Journal Article
SARS-CoV-2 RNA monitoring in wastewater as a potential early warning system for COVID-19 transmission in the community: a temporal case study
Ahmed, Warish, Tscharke, Ben, Bertsch, Paul M., Bibby, Kyle, Bivins, Aaron, Choi, Phil, Clarke, Leah, Dwyer, Jason, Edson, Janette, Nguyen, Thi Minh Hong, O'Brien, Jake W., Simpson, Stuart L., Sherman, Paul, Thomas, Kevin V., Verhagen, Rory, Zaugg, Julian and Mueller, Jochen F. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 RNA monitoring in wastewater as a potential early warning system for COVID-19 transmission in the community: a temporal case study. Science of The Total Environment, 761 144216, 144216. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144216
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
-
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
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
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
High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Ubiquitous Environmental Contaminants of Emerging Concern
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
-
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
-
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
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
AMR in food producing environments (Ref: 5529)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: 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
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
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
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
Emerging contaminants in Food Contact Materials, analysis policy and regulation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon
-
Doctor Philosophy
The suitability of wastewater-based epidemiology for AMR surveillance
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating dietary exposure to nanoplastics and microplastics
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
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
-
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
-
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
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