Overview
Background
Dr Phong Thai is an ARC Mid-Career Industry Fellow. Phong joined Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS) in 2018 after his Vice Chancellor Senior Research Fellowship at the International Laboratory of Air Quality and Health at Queensland University of Technology. His research focus at QAEHS involves the expansion of wastewater-based epidemiological approach to estimate community consumption and exposure to a range of licit and illicit substances including tobacco and alcohol, pharmaceuticals and as well as the monitoring of community infection to Covid-19 during the last pandemic. He is a member of the team who manage the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.
Phong is also working on projects monitoring occurence, fate and transport of environmental pollutants in different matrices. He has lso far ed or contributed to several exciting projects totalling > A$ 15 millions.
Availability
- Associate Professor Phong Thai is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
- Graduate Certificate of Education & Teaching, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Wastewater-based epidemiology
Identifying markers for population exposure estimation through wastewater-based epidemiology
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Air quality and its impact
Developing new approach to monitor air quality and linking exposure to air pollutants to health impact
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Legacy persistent pollutants
Assessment of the fate and transport of persistent pollutants including PFAS, flame retardants, in the environment
Works
Search Professor Phong Thai’s works on UQ eSpace
2017
Journal Article
The association between particulate air pollution and respiratory admissions among young children in Hanoi, Vietnam
Luong, Ly M. T., Phung, Dung, Sly, Peter D., Morawska, Lidia and Thai, Phong K. (2017). The association between particulate air pollution and respiratory admissions among young children in Hanoi, Vietnam. Science of the Total Environment, 578, 249-255. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.08.012
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.
2017
Conference Publication
Association between purity of seized drugs with their daily loads measured in wastewater in an Australian catchment from 2010-2015
Bruno, Raimondo, Edirisinghe, Methsiri, Hall, Wayne, Mueller, Jochen, Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake and Thai, Phong (2017). Association between purity of seized drugs with their daily loads measured in wastewater in an Australian catchment from 2010-2015. Testing the Waters 2017: 3rd International conference on “Wastewater – Based Drug Epidemiology”, Lisbon, Portugal, 26-27 October 2017.
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
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 population and demographic markers in wastewater
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 population and demographic markers in wastewater. SETAC Australasia Conference 2017, Gold Coast, Australia, 4-6 September 2017.
2017
Journal Article
Wastewater analysis of substance use: implications for law, policy and research
Prichard, Jeremy, Lai, Foon Yin, van Dyken, Emma, Thai, Phong, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, Paul, Gartner, Coral, O'Brien, Jake and Mueller, Jochen F. (2017). Wastewater analysis of substance use: implications for law, policy and research. Journal of Law and Medicine, 24 (4), 837-849.
2016
Journal Article
Spatial variations in the consumption of illicit stimulant drugs across Australia: a nationwide application of wastewater-based epidemiology
Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, Paul, Gartner, Coral, Thai, Phong, Carter, Steve, Burns, Lucy and Mueller, Jochen (2016). Spatial variations in the consumption of illicit stimulant drugs across Australia: a nationwide application of wastewater-based epidemiology. Science of The Total Environment, 568 (9), 810-818. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.207
2016
Journal Article
Measuring selected PPCPs in wastewater to estimate the population in different cities in China
Gao, Jianfa, O'Brien, Jake, Du, Peng, Li, Xiqing, Ort, Christoph, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2016). Measuring selected PPCPs in wastewater to estimate the population in different cities in China. Science of the Total Environment, 568, 164-170. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.216
2016
Journal Article
Refining the excretion factors of methadone and codeine for wastewater analysis - combining data from pharmacokinetic and wastewater studies
Thai, Phong K., Lai, Foon Yin, Bruno, Raimondo, van Dyken, Emma, Hall, Wayne, O'Brien, Jake, Prichard, Jeremy and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Refining the excretion factors of methadone and codeine for wastewater analysis - combining data from pharmacokinetic and wastewater studies. Environment International, 94, 307-314. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2016.05.033
2016
Journal Article
Air pollution and risk of respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations in the most populous city in Vietnam
Phung, Dung, Hien, To Thi, Linh, Ho Nhut, Luong, Ly M. T., Morawska, Lidia, Chu, Cordia, Binh, Nguyen Duy and Thai, Phong K. (2016). Air pollution and risk of respiratory and cardiovascular hospitalizations in the most populous city in Vietnam. Science of the Total Environment, 557-558, 322-330. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.070
2016
Journal Article
Cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine residues in wastewater: consumption trends (2009-2015) in South East Queensland, Australia
Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake W., Thai, Phong K., Hall, Wayne, Chan, Gary, Bruno, Raimondo, Ort, Christoph, Prichard, Jeremy, Carter, Steve, Anuj, Shalona, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Gartner, Coral, Humphries, Melissa and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine residues in wastewater: consumption trends (2009-2015) in South East Queensland, Australia. Science of The Total Environment, 568, 803-809. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.181
2016
Journal Article
Changes in atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls between the 1990s and 2010s in an Australian city and the role of bushfires as a source
Wang, Xianyu, Thai, Phong K., Li, Yan, Li, Qingbo, Wainwright, David, Hawker, Darryl W. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Changes in atmospheric concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls between the 1990s and 2010s in an Australian city and the role of bushfires as a source. Environmental Pollution, 213, 223-231. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.02.020
2016
Journal Article
Evaluation of monitoring schemes for wastewater-based epidemiology to identify drug use trends using cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and methadone
Humphries, Melissa A., Bruno, Raimondo, Lai, Foon Yin, Thai, Phong K., Holland, Barbara R., O'Brien, Jake W., Ort, Christoph and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Evaluation of monitoring schemes for wastewater-based epidemiology to identify drug use trends using cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA and methadone. Environmental Science and Technology, 50 (9), 4760-4768. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.5b06126
2016
Journal Article
Ambient temperature and risk of cardiovascular hospitalization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Phung, Dung, Thai, Phong K., Guo, Yuming, Morawska, Lidia, Rutherford, Shannon and Chu, Cordia (2016). Ambient temperature and risk of cardiovascular hospitalization: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Science of the Total Environment, 550 (2016), 1084-1102. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.01.154
2016
Journal Article
Trends in methamphetamine residues in wastewater in metropolitan and regional cities in south-east Queensland, 2009-2015
Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake, Thai, Phong K., Hall, Wayne D. and Mueller, Jochen (2016). Trends in methamphetamine residues in wastewater in metropolitan and regional cities in south-east Queensland, 2009-2015. Medical Journal of Australia, 204 (4), 151-152e. doi: 10.5694/mja15.01054
2016
Journal Article
Monitoring exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an Australian population using pooled urine samples
Thai, Phong K., Heffernan, Amy L., Toms, Leisa-Maree L., Li, Zheng, Calafat, Antonia M., Hobson, Peter, Broomhall, Sara and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Monitoring exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an Australian population using pooled urine samples. Environment International, 88, 30-35. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.11.019
2016
Journal Article
Monitoring temporal changes in use of two cathinones in a large urban catchment in Queensland, Australia
Thai, Phong K., Lai, Foon Yin, Edirisinghe, Mehtsiri, Hall, Wayne, Bruno, Raimondo, O'Brien, Jake W., Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, K. Paul and Mueller, Jochen F. (2016). Monitoring temporal changes in use of two cathinones in a large urban catchment in Queensland, Australia. Science of the Total Environment, 545-546, 250-255. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.12.038
2016
Journal Article
Challenges and opportunities in using wastewater analysis tomeasure drug use in a small prison facility
Van Dyken, Emma, Lai, Foon Yin, Thai, Phong K., Ort, Christoph, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, Paul K., Mueller, Jochen F. and Prichard, Jeremy (2016). Challenges and opportunities in using wastewater analysis tomeasure drug use in a small prison facility. Drug and Alcohol Review, 35 (2), 138-147. doi: 10.1111/dar.12156
2016
Journal Article
Critical review on the stability of illicit drugs in sewers and wastewater samples
McCall, Ann-Kathrin, Bade, Richard, Kinyua, Juliet, Lai, Foon Yin, Thai, Phong K., Covaci, Adrian, Bijlsma, Lubertus, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N. and Ort, Christoph (2016). Critical review on the stability of illicit drugs in sewers and wastewater samples. Water Research, 88, 933-947. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.10.040
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Phong Thai is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Dr Qiuda Zheng
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Doctor Philosophy
Assessing and modelling spatiotemporal trends in drug consumptions in the community by wastewater-based epidemiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jiaying Li
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Doctor Philosophy
A Wastewater-based Epidemiology Study on the Consumption Characteristics, Prevalence, and Risk Assessment of Psychoactive Substances in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Qiuda Zheng, Dr Ben Tscharke
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Doctor Philosophy
Human exposure pathways for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Sandra Nilsson, Dr Fisher Wang
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Doctor Philosophy
Using multiple data sources to understand the opioid crisis in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Dr Ben Tscharke
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the vaping epidemic through novel integrative monitoring tool
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Qiuda Zheng
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
The metabolic syndrome in relation to nutritional status among adults in Vietnam
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Abdullah Mamun, Associate Professor Dung Phung
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2025
Master Philosophy
Exposure to third-hand smoke of methamphetamine: investigation of the extent of contamination including airborne methamphetamine
Principal Advisor
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Estimating use of nicotine containing products and evaluating tobacco-related health risks through wastewater analysis
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Ben Tscharke
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
An assessment of alcohol and tobacco consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Ben Tscharke
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2026
Doctor Philosophy
Social norms toward cigarette smoking and other nicotine product use: trends and influences across populations and regulatory contexts
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jason Connor, Professor Coral Gartner, Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Traffic-related air pollution: impact on respiratory health and attitudes to self-protective behaviours amongst urban Vietnamese children
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Dung Phung, Professor Peter Sly
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
Transformation and fate of organic micropollutants in the urban wastewater system
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Honorary Professor Zhiguo Yuan
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Emerging organic contaminants in wastewater treatment plants
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Professor Jochen Mueller
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Effects of Atmospheric Environment on Children's Health in Hanoi, Vietnam
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller, Professor Peter Sly, Associate Professor Dung Phung
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Expanding wastewater-based epidemiology and evaluating the stability of biomarkers in the sewers: from the laboratory to the field
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Jochen Mueller
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Organophosphate esters in the Australian environment: sources, fate, and human exposure
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Fisher Wang, Professor Jochen Mueller
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Emissions of Selected Semivolatile Organic Chemicals from Open-field Biomass Burning and Its Role as an Air Pollution Source in Australia
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Jochen Mueller
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Refining the uncertainties and expansion of wastewater-based epidemiology for assessing population exposure to chemicals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Professor Jochen Mueller
Media
Enquiries
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