Overview
Background
Dr Ben Tscharke is an analytical chemist with a keen interest in quantifying analytes in environmental samples. Ben is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Queensland research institute, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), joining in February 2017 after graduating his PhD from the University of South Australia the previous year. His key focus at QAEHS involves the wastewater based epidemiological approach to determine community consumption and exposure to a range of illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals and personal care products. He leads the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's National Wastewater Drug Monitoring program at UQ, which collaborates with the University of South Australia (https://www.acic.gov.au/publications/intelligence-products/national-wastewater-drug-monitoring-program-report).
Availability
- Dr Ben Tscharke is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, University of South Australia
Research interests
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Wastewater-based epidemiology
I am a research fellow at QAEHS focussed on estimating population-level consumption of licit and illicit drugs in communities via measuring drugs and drug metabolites in wastewater. One of my main interests is extending the utility of wastewater data by combining it with other forms of data to improve understanding of drug use and exposure to chemicals in our communities.
Works
Search Professor Ben Tscharke’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Assessment of drugs of abuse in a wastewater treatment plant in New Zealand with parallel secondary wastewater treatment train
Kumar, Rahul, Tscharke, Ben, O'Brien, Jake, Mueller, Jochen F., Wilkins, Chris and Padhye, Lokesh P. (2019). Assessment of drugs of abuse in a wastewater treatment plant in New Zealand with parallel secondary wastewater treatment train. Science of The Total Environment, 658, 947-957. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.167
2019
Journal Article
LC-HRMS suspect screening to show spatial patterns of New Psychoactive Substances use in Australia
Bade, Richard, Tscharke, Benjamin J., White, Jason M., Grant, Sharon, Mueller, Jochen F., O'Brien, Jake, Thomas, Kevin V. and Gerber, Cobus (2019). LC-HRMS suspect screening to show spatial patterns of New Psychoactive Substances use in Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 650 (Pt 2), 2181-2187. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.348
2019
Conference Publication
Monitoring opioid use through wastewater-based epidemiology: Case of methadone in Australia and China
Thai, Phong, O'Brien, Jake, Tscharke, Benjamin, Du, Peng, Li, Xiqing, Bruno, Raimondo, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2019). Monitoring opioid use through wastewater-based epidemiology: Case of methadone in Australia and China. Fall National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), San Diego, CA, United States, 25-29 August 2019. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.
2019
Conference Publication
Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach
Mackie, Miss, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, Choi, Phil, Gartner, Coral, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2019). Trends in nicotine consumption between 2010 and 2017 in an Australian city using the wastewater-based epidemiology approach. Fall National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Diego, CA, United States, 25-29 August 2019. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.
2019
Conference Publication
Influence of population age and socioeconomics on chemical consumption and diet patterns measured by wastewater based epidemiology
Choi, P., Tscharke, B., Samanipour, S., O’Brien, J., Thomas, K. and Mueller, J. (2019). Influence of population age and socioeconomics on chemical consumption and diet patterns measured by wastewater based epidemiology. 2019 Annual Conference of the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology, Utrecht, Netherlands, 25-28 August 2019. Alphen aan de Rijn, Netherlands: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health). doi: 10.1097/01.ee9.0000606448.07396.1d
2019
Conference Publication
Measuring the scale of opioid consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis
Gerber, Cobus, Nguyen, Lynn, Bade, Richard, White, Jason, Tscharke, Benjamin, O'Brien, Jake, Mueller, Jochen and Thomas, Kevin (2019). Measuring the scale of opioid consumption in Australia by wastewater analysis. Fall National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), San Diego, CA, United States, 25-29 August 2019. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.
2019
Conference Publication
Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology to inform on public health
Thomas, Kevin, O'Brien, Jake, Tscharke, Benjamin, Choi, Phil, Thai, Phong, Mackie, Miss, Verhagen, Rory, Shimko, Katja, Ahmed, Fahad, O'Malley, Elissa, Zheng, Quida and Mueller, Jochen (2019). Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology to inform on public health. Fall National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Diego, CA, United States, 25-29 August 2019. Washington, DC, United States: American Chemical Society.
2018
Journal Article
Analyzing wastewater samples collected during census to determine the correction factors of drugs for wastewater-based epidemiology: the case of codeine and methadone
Thai, Phong K., O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben J. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). Analyzing wastewater samples collected during census to determine the correction factors of drugs for wastewater-based epidemiology: the case of codeine and methadone. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 6 (5) acs.estlett.8b00673, 265-269. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.8b00673
2018
Journal Article
Enantiomeric profiling of amphetamine and methamphetamine in wastewater: a 7-year study in regional and urban Queensland, Australia
Gao, Jianfa, Xu, Zeqiong, Li, Xiqing, O'Brien, Jake W., Culshaw, Peter N., Thomas, Kevin V., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2018). Enantiomeric profiling of amphetamine and methamphetamine in wastewater: a 7-year study in regional and urban Queensland, Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 643, 827-834. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.242
2018
Journal Article
A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: a case study using the Australian Census
O'Brien, Jake W., Grant, Sharon, Banks, Andrew P.W., Bruno, Raimondo, Carter, Stephen, Choi, Phil M., Covaci, Adrian, Crosbie, Nicholas D., Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne, Jiang, Guangming, Kaserzon, Sarit, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Lai, Foon Yin, Mackie, Rachel, Marshall, Judi, Ort, Christoph, Paxman, Christopher, Prichard, Jeremy, Thai, Phong, Thomas, Kevin V., Tscharke, Ben and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). A National Wastewater Monitoring Program for a better understanding of public health: a case study using the Australian Census. Environment International, 122, 400-411. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2018.12.003
2018
Other Outputs
National wastewater drug monitoring program: sixth report
Tscharke, B., Mackie, R., O’Brien, J., Grant, S., Mueller, J., Thomas, K., Ghetia, M., Bade, R., Gerber, C. and White, J. (2018). National wastewater drug monitoring program: sixth report. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
2018
Other Outputs
National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 5
Tscharke, Bengamine J., Mackie, Rachel, O'Brien, Jake W., Grant, Sharon, Mueller, Jochen, Ghetia, Maulik, Aghera, Hetal, Bade, Richard, Gerber, Cobus and White, Jason (2018). National wastewater drug monitoring program - report 5. Canberra, ACT, Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
2018
Journal Article
Wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: past, present and future
Choi, Phil M., Tscharke, Ben J., Donner, Erica, O'Brien, Jake W., Grant, Sharon C., Kaserzon, Sarit L., Mackie, Rachel, O'Malley, Elissa, Crosbie, Nicholas D., Thomas, Kevin V. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). Wastewater-based epidemiology biomarkers: past, present and future. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 105, 453-469. doi: 10.1016/j.trac.2018.06.004
2018
Journal Article
Measuring spatial and temporal trends of nicotine and alcohol consumption in Australia using wastewater-based epidemiology
Lai, Foon Yin, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne, Carter, Steve, O'Brien, Jake, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Been, Frederic, Gerber, Cobus, White, Jason, Thai, Phong, Bruno, Raimondo, Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, K. Paul and Mueller, Jochen F. (2018). Measuring spatial and temporal trends of nicotine and alcohol consumption in Australia using wastewater-based epidemiology. Addiction, 113 (6), 1127-1136. doi: 10.1111/add.14157
2018
Journal Article
Investigating the correlation between wastewater analysis and roadside drug testing in South Australia
Bade, Richard, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Longo, Marie, Cooke, Richard, White, Jason M. and Gerber, Cobus (2018). Investigating the correlation between wastewater analysis and roadside drug testing in South Australia. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 187, 123-126. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.02.030
2018
Other Outputs
National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program - Report 4
Tscharke, Ben, Mackie, Rachel, O'Brien, Jake, Grant, Sharon, Mueller, Jochen, Ghetia, Maulik, Aghera, Hetal, Bade, Richard, Gerber, Cobus and White, Jason (2018). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program - Report 4. -:
2017
Other Outputs
National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program – Report 3
Tscharke, Ben, Mackie, Rachel, O'Brien, Jake, Grant, Sharon, Mueller, Jochen, Ghetia, Maulik, Aghera, Hetal, Bade, Richard, Gerber, Cobus and White, Jason (2017). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program – Report 3. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
2017
Other Outputs
Calibration of novel passive sampling devices for the monitoring of PFAS in groundwater
Kaserzon, Sarit, Vijayasarathy, Soumini, Mueller, Linus, Van Niekerk, Sean, Braeunig, Jennifer, Thompson, Kristie, Tscharke, Ben, Gray, Robert and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Calibration of novel passive sampling devices for the monitoring of PFAS in groundwater. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland.
2017
Other Outputs
National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program - Report 2
Tscharke, Ben, Mackie, Rachel, O'Brien, Jake, Grant, Sharon, Mueller, Jochen, Bade, Richard, Ghetia, Maulik, Gerber, Cobus and White, Jason (2017). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program - Report 2. Canberra, ACT Australia: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
2017
Journal Article
Wastewater analysis shows a large decrease in oxycodone use in Adelaide
Crowley, Philip, White, Jason M., Tscharke, Benjamin J. and Gerber, Cobus (2017). Wastewater analysis shows a large decrease in oxycodone use in Adelaide. Medical Journal of Australia, 207 (2), 88-88.e1. doi: 10.5694/mja17.00137
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Ben Tscharke is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Using multiple data sources to understand the opioid crisis in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
Doctor Philosophy
An exploration of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in QLD wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Jiaying Li, Dr Ian Zammit
-
Doctor Philosophy
An exploration of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in QLD wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Jiaying Li, Dr Ian Zammit
-
Doctor Philosophy
An exploration of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in QLD wastewater
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Dr Jiaying Li, Dr Ian Zammit
-
Doctor Philosophy
A Wastewater-based Epidemiology Study on the Consumption Characteristics, Prevalence, and Risk Assessment of Psychoactive Substances in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Qiuda Zheng, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Data mining for characterization of the chemical exposome in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
-
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating use of tobacco and nicotine products through wastewater analysis
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas, Associate Professor Phong Thai
-
Doctor Philosophy
Bioaccumulation potential of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) in humans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Bade, Associate Professor Phong Thai, Professor Jochen Mueller
Completed supervision
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Innovative sampling strategies for improved wastewater-based epidemiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Professor Kevin Thomas
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the suitability of wastewater analysis for the detection and monitoring of performance- and image-enhancing drug use
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas
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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, Professor Kevin Thomas, Associate Professor Phong Thai
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of analgesic consumption and the burden of treated pain in Australia using wastewater-based epidemiology
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Ben Tscharke directly for media enquiries about:
- National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
- Wastewater drug testing
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