Overview
Background
Dr Ben Tscharke is an early career researcher and analytical chemist with a keen interest in quantifying analytes in environmental samples. Ben is currently a 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 has significant involvement in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's National Wastewater Drug Monitoring program, for which UQ 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
2017
Conference Publication
Finding population and demographic markers in wastewater using samples collected during a population census
O'Brien, Jake, Grant, Sharon, Thai, Phong, Ort, Christoph, Eaglesham, Geoff, Vijayasarathy, Soumini, Lai, Foon Yin, Covaci, Adrian, Novic, Andrew, Tscharke, Ben, Choi, Phil, Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Finding population and demographic markers in wastewater using samples collected during a population census. Testing the Waters 2017: 3rd International conference on “Wastewater – Based Drug Epidemiology”, Lisbon, Portugal, 26-27 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Development of a national wastewater drug monitoring program in Australia
O'Brien, Jake , Tscharke, Ben , Gerber, Cobus , Grant, Sharon , White, Jason , Thomas, Kevin , Bade, Richard and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Development of a national wastewater drug monitoring program in Australia. Lisbon Addictions: 2nd European Conference on Addictive Behaviours and Dependencies, Lisbon, Portugal, 24-26 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
The challenges of performing large-scale multi-city wastewater-based epidemiology studies
Thomas, Kevin , O'Brien, Jake , Bijlsma, Lubertus , Castiglioni, Sara , Covaci, Adrian , de Voogt, Pim , Emke, Erik , Hernandez, Felix , Gerber, Cobus , Grant, Sharon , Kasprzyk-Hordern, Barbara , Mueller, Jochen , Ort, Christoph , Reid, Malcolm , Tscharke, Ben , van Nuijs, Alexander and White, Jason (2017). The challenges of performing large-scale multi-city wastewater-based epidemiology studies. Testing the waters 2017 Wastewater-based epidemiology: current applications and future perspectives 3rd international conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 26-27 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Can wastewater analysis be used to inform on the clandestine production of methylamphetamine?
Kayalar, Hasan, O'Brien, Jake, Shimko, Katja, Tscharke, Ben, Choi, Phil, Ferris, Jason, Eaglesham, Geoff, Jiang, Hui, Barron, Leon, Mueller, Jochen and Thomas, Kevin (2017). Can wastewater analysis be used to inform on the clandestine production of methylamphetamine?. 2nd Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 2-3 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Spatial differences in illicit drug use in Australia’s capital and regional areas; initial results from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
Tscharke, Ben , Gerber, Cobus , O'Brien, Jake , Grant, Sharon , Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin , Bade, Richard and White, Jason (2017). Spatial differences in illicit drug use in Australia’s capital and regional areas; initial results from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. Testing the waters 2017 Wastewater-based epidemiology: current applications and future perspectives 3rd international conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 26-27 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used for the assessment of anabolic steroid use?
Shimko, Katja, O'Brien, Jake, Kayalar, Hasan, Choi, Phil, Jiang, Hui, Tscharke, Ben, Zahnow, Renee, Eaglesham, Geoff, Mueller, Jochen, Barron, Leon and Thomas, Kevin (2017). Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used for the assessment of anabolic steroid use?. Qld Annual Chemistry Symposium, Brisbane, Australia, 27 November 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used for the assessment of anabolic steroid use?
Shimko, Katja , O'Brien, Jake , Kayalar, Hasan , Choi, Phil , Jiang, Hui , Tscharke, Ben , Zahnow, Renee , Eaglesham, Geoff , Mueller, Jochen, Barron, Leon and Thomas, Kevin (2017). Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used for the assessment of anabolic steroid use?. 2nd Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium 2017, Brisbane, Australia, 2-3 November 2017. Brisbane, QLD., Australia: QIMR .
2017
Conference Publication
Spatial differences in illicit drug use in Australia’s capital and regional areas; initial results from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
Tscharke, Ben , O'Brien, Jake , Gerber, Cobus , Grant, Sharon , White, Jason , Thomas, Kevin , Bade, Richard and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Spatial differences in illicit drug use in Australia’s capital and regional areas; initial results from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. SETAC Australasia Conference 2017, Gold Coast, Australia, 4-6 September 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Wastewater analysis: a tool for measuring population consumption of chemicals and release of chemicals to the environment
O'Brien, Jake , Tscharke, Ben , Grant, Sharon , Thai, Phong , Ort, Christoph , Lai, Foon Yin , Mackie, Rachel , Covaci, Adrian , Bruno, Raimondo , Gartner, Coral , Prichard, Jeremy , Hall, Wayne , Kirkbride, Paul , Choi, Phil , Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Wastewater analysis: a tool for measuring population consumption of chemicals and release of chemicals to the environment. Environmental Health Australia 42nd National Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 16-19 October 2017.
2017
Conference Publication
Using wastewater analysis to find demographic markers
O'Brien, Jake , Grant, Sharon , Thai, Phong , Ort, Christoph , Eaglesham, Geoff , Vijayasarathy, Soumini , Lai, Foon Yin , Covaci, Adrian , Novic, Andrew , Tscharke, Ben , Choi, Phil , Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen (2017). Using wastewater analysis to find demographic markers. 2nd Queensland Mass Spectrometry Symposium 2017, Brisbane, Australia, 2-3 November 2017.
2016
Journal Article
Temporal trends in drug use in Adelaide, South Australia by wastewater analysis
Tscharke, Benjamin J., Chen, Chang, Gerber, Jacobus P. and White, Jason M. (2016). Temporal trends in drug use in Adelaide, South Australia by wastewater analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 565, 384-391. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.183
2016
Journal Article
Estimates of tobacco use by wastewater analysis of anabasine and anatabine
Tscharke, Ben J., White, Jason M. and Gerber, Jacobus P. (2016). Estimates of tobacco use by wastewater analysis of anabasine and anatabine. Drug Testing and Analysis, 8 (7), 702-707. doi: 10.1002/dta.1842
2015
Journal Article
Trends in stimulant use in Australia: a comparison of wastewater analysis and population surveys
Tscharke, Benjamin J., Chen, Chang, Gerber, Jacobus P. and White, Jason M. (2015). Trends in stimulant use in Australia: a comparison of wastewater analysis and population surveys. Science of the Total Environment, 536, 331-337. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.07.078
2014
Journal Article
Towards finding a population biomarker for wastewater epidemiology studies
Chen, Chang, Kostakis, Chris, Gerber, Jacobus P., Tscharke, Ben J., Irvine, Rodney J. and White, Jason M. (2014). Towards finding a population biomarker for wastewater epidemiology studies. Science of the Total Environment, 487 (1), 621-628. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.11.075
2014
Conference Publication
Estimation of stimulant use in metropolitan Adelaide by wastewater analysis
Tscharke, Ben, Chen, Chang, Gerber, Cobus and White, Jason (2014). Estimation of stimulant use in metropolitan Adelaide by wastewater analysis. Australian and New Zealand Forensic Science Society, Adelaide, 31 August-4 September 2014.
2013
Conference Publication
Waste Water Analysis of Illicit Drug Use in the Population
Hall, Wayne, White, Jason, Lai, Foonyin, Gerber, Cobus, Chen, Chang, Tscharke, Ben and White, Jason (2013). Waste Water Analysis of Illicit Drug Use in the Population. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs (APSAD) conference, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 24 - 27 November 1013. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.. doi: 10.1111/dar.12077
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Ben Tscharke is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
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
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Doctor Philosophy
Bioaccumulation potential of chlorinated paraffins (CPs) in humans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Richard Bade, Associate Professor Phong Thai, Professor Jochen Mueller
-
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
Completed supervision
-
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
-
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
-
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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