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Associate Professor Phong Thai
Associate Professor

Phong Thai

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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

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology
  • Graduate Certificate of Education & Teaching, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Wastewater-based epidemiology

    Identifying markers for population exposure estimation through wastewater-based epidemiology

  • Air quality and its impact

    Developing new approach to monitor air quality and linking exposure to air pollutants to health impact

  • 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

280 works between 2006 and 2025

221 - 240 of 280 works

2015

Conference Publication

Application of wastewater-based epidemiology on monitoring illicit drug, alcohol and nicotine use in Australian and New Zealand populations

Lai, F. Y., Hall, W., Wilkins, C., Gartner, C., Carter, S., Anuj, S., O'Brien, J. W., Thai, P., Bruno, R., Prichard, J., Kirkbride, P. and Mueller, J. F. (2015). Application of wastewater-based epidemiology on monitoring illicit drug, alcohol and nicotine use in Australian and New Zealand populations. Testing the Waters, Ascona, Switzerland, 11-15 October 2015.

Application of wastewater-based epidemiology on monitoring illicit drug, alcohol and nicotine use in Australian and New Zealand populations

2015

Journal Article

Could wastewater analysis be a useful tool for China? - A review

Gao, Jianfa, O'Brien, Jake, Lai, Foon Yin, van Nuijs, Alexander L. N., He, Jun, Mueller, Jochen F., Xu, Jingsha and Thai, Phong K. (2015). Could wastewater analysis be a useful tool for China? - A review. Journal of Environmental Sciences, 27 (C), 70-79. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2014.09.025

Could wastewater analysis be a useful tool for China? - A review

2015

Conference Publication

Reading wastewater downunder

Mueller, J. F., Lai, F. Y., Thai, P., O'Brien, J., Ort, C., Gartner, C., Prichard, J., Bruno, R., van Dyken, E., Humphries, M., Carter, S., Wilkins, P., Kirkbride, W. and Hall, W. (2015). Reading wastewater downunder. Testing the Waters, Ascona, Switzerland, 11-15 October 2015.

Reading wastewater downunder

2014

Journal Article

Monitoring substance use in prisons: assessing the potential value of wastewater analysis

van Dyken, Emma, Thai, Phong, Lai, Foon Yin, Ort, Christoph, Prichard, Jeremy, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, K. Paul and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Monitoring substance use in prisons: assessing the potential value of wastewater analysis. Science and Justice, 54 (5), 338-345. doi: 10.1016/j.scijus.2014.06.006

Monitoring substance use in prisons: assessing the potential value of wastewater analysis

2014

Other Outputs

Collection and analysis of chemical pollutants in pooled human media (milk, serum and urine) 2011-2013: report for the Australian Government Department of the Environment

Toms, L. M., Heffernan, A. L., Hobson, P., Sjoedin, A., Calafat, A., Li, Z., Baduel, C., Gomez-Ramos, M. J., Thai, P., Chen, Y., Malisch, R. and Mueller, J. (2014). Collection and analysis of chemical pollutants in pooled human media (milk, serum and urine) 2011-2013: report for the Australian Government Department of the Environment. Not available:

Collection and analysis of chemical pollutants in pooled human media (milk, serum and urine) 2011-2013: report for the Australian Government Department of the Environment

2014

Journal Article

Degradability of creatinine under sewer conditions affects its potential to be used as biomarker in sewage epidemiology

Thai, Phong K., O'Brien, Jake, Jiang, Guangming, Gernjak, Wolfgang, Yuan, Zhiguo, Eaglesham, Geoff and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Degradability of creatinine under sewer conditions affects its potential to be used as biomarker in sewage epidemiology. Water Research, 55, 272-279. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.02.035

Degradability of creatinine under sewer conditions affects its potential to be used as biomarker in sewage epidemiology

2014

Journal Article

Towards development of a rapid and effective non-destructive testing strategy to identify brominated flame retardants in the plastics of consumer products

Gallen, Christie, Banks, Andrew, Brandsma, Sicco, Baduel, Christine, Thai, Phong., Eaglesham, Geoff, Heffernan, Amy, Leonards, Pim, Bainton, Paul and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Towards development of a rapid and effective non-destructive testing strategy to identify brominated flame retardants in the plastics of consumer products. Science of the Total Environment, 491-492, 255-265. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.074

Towards development of a rapid and effective non-destructive testing strategy to identify brominated flame retardants in the plastics of consumer products

2014

Journal Article

A Simple and Rapid Method to Measure Residue of Cefexime - a Cephalosporin Antibiotic in the Wastewater of Pharmaceutical Production Plant

Hue, Tran Thi Thanh, Son, Doan Cao, Anh. Nguyen Thi Lan, Anh, Nguyen Thi Kieu, Phong, Thai Khanh and Hiramatsu, Kazuaki (2014). A Simple and Rapid Method to Measure Residue of Cefexime - a Cephalosporin Antibiotic in the Wastewater of Pharmaceutical Production Plant. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture Kyushu University, 59 (1), 169-175. doi: 10.5109/1434408

A Simple and Rapid Method to Measure Residue of Cefexime - a Cephalosporin Antibiotic in the Wastewater of Pharmaceutical Production Plant

2014

Journal Article

A model to estimate the population contributing to the wastewater using samples collected on census day

O'Brien, Jake W., Thai, Phong K., Eaglesham, Geoff, Ort, Christoph, Scheidegger, Andreas, Carter, Steve, Lai, Foon Yin and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). A model to estimate the population contributing to the wastewater using samples collected on census day. Environmental Science and Technology, 48 (1), 517-525. doi: 10.1021/es403251g

A model to estimate the population contributing to the wastewater using samples collected on census day

2014

Journal Article

Commentary on Ort etal. (2014): What next to deliver on the promise of large scale sewage-based drug epidemiology?

Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Kirkbride, K. Paul, Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake W., Prichard, Jeremy, Thai, Phong K. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Commentary on Ort etal. (2014): What next to deliver on the promise of large scale sewage-based drug epidemiology?. Addiction, 109 (8), 1353-1354. doi: 10.1111/add.12651

Commentary on Ort etal. (2014): What next to deliver on the promise of large scale sewage-based drug epidemiology?

2014

Conference Publication

Refining the Excretion Factor for the Back-Estimation of Methadone Consumption in Sewer Epidemiology

Thai, Phong K., Van Dyken, Emma, Banks, Andrew, Lai, Foonyin, O'Brien, Jake, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne D., Prichard, Jeremy and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Refining the Excretion Factor for the Back-Estimation of Methadone Consumption in Sewer Epidemiology. Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs Conference 2014, Adelaide, SA Australia, 9-12 November 2014. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/dar.12222

Refining the Excretion Factor for the Back-Estimation of Methadone Consumption in Sewer Epidemiology

2014

Journal Article

Effects of sewer conditions on the degradation of selected illicit drug residues in wastewater

Thai, Phong K., Jiang, Guangming, Gernjak, Wolfgang, Yuan, Zhiguo, Lai, Foon Yin and Mueller, Jochen F. (2014). Effects of sewer conditions on the degradation of selected illicit drug residues in wastewater. Water Research, 48 (1), 538-547. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2013.10.019

Effects of sewer conditions on the degradation of selected illicit drug residues in wastewater

2013

Journal Article

Estimating daily and diurnal variations of illicit drug use in Hong Kong: A pilot study of using wastewater analysis in an Asian metropolitan city

Lai, Foon Yin, Bruno, Raimondo, Leung, Ho Wing, Thai, Phong K., Ort, Christoph, Carter, Steve, Thompson, Kristie, Lam, Paul K. S. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2013). Estimating daily and diurnal variations of illicit drug use in Hong Kong: A pilot study of using wastewater analysis in an Asian metropolitan city. Forensic Science International, 233 (1-3), 126-132. doi: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.09.003

Estimating daily and diurnal variations of illicit drug use in Hong Kong: A pilot study of using wastewater analysis in an Asian metropolitan city

2013

Journal Article

Using quantitative wastewater analysis to measure daily usage of conventional and emerging illicit drugs at an annual music festival

Lai, Foon Yin, Thai, Phong K., O'Brien, Jake., Gartner, Coral, Bruno, Raimondo, Kele, Benjamin, Ort, Christoph, Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, Paul, Hall, Wayne, Carter, Steve and Mueller, Jochen F. (2013). Using quantitative wastewater analysis to measure daily usage of conventional and emerging illicit drugs at an annual music festival. Drug and Alcohol Review, 32 (6), 594-602. doi: 10.1111/dar.12061

Using quantitative wastewater analysis to measure daily usage of conventional and emerging illicit drugs at an annual music festival

2013

Journal Article

Profiles of illicit drug use during annual key holiday and control periods in Australia: wastewater analysis in an urban, a semi-rural and a vacation area

Lai, Foon Yin, Bruno, Raimondo, Hall, Wayne, Gartner, Coral, Ort, Christoph, Kirkbride, Paul, Prichard, Jeremy, Thai, Phong K., Carter, Steve and Mueller, Jochen F. (2013). Profiles of illicit drug use during annual key holiday and control periods in Australia: wastewater analysis in an urban, a semi-rural and a vacation area. Addiction, 108 (3), 556-565. doi: 10.1111/add.12006

Profiles of illicit drug use during annual key holiday and control periods in Australia: wastewater analysis in an urban, a semi-rural and a vacation area

2013

Journal Article

Measuring load of phosphate in the environment by passive sampling techniques - an introduction

Phong, Thai Khanh, Phuc, Dam Hoang, Phi, Thai Ha and Hiramatsu, Kazuaki (2013). Measuring load of phosphate in the environment by passive sampling techniques - an introduction. Journal of the Faculty of Agriculture Kyushu University, 58 (1), 153-157. doi: 10.5109/26175

Measuring load of phosphate in the environment by passive sampling techniques - an introduction

2013

Conference Publication

Effects of sewer conditions on the dissipation of illicit drug residues and metabolites in wastewater

Jiang, Guangming, Thai, Phong, Gernjak, Wolfgang, Yuan, Zhiguo and Mueller, Jochen (2013). Effects of sewer conditions on the dissipation of illicit drug residues and metabolites in wastewater. SPN7 2013: 7th International Conference on Sewer Processes and Networks, Sheffield, UK., 28-30 August, 2013.

Effects of sewer conditions on the dissipation of illicit drug residues and metabolites in wastewater

Featured

2012

Journal Article

An analysis of ethical issues in using wastewater analysis to monitor illicit drug use

Hall, Wayne, Prichard, Jeremy, Kirkbride, Paul, Bruno, Raimondo, Thai, Phong K., Gartner, Coral, Lai, Foon Yin, Ort, Christoph and Mueller, Jochen F. (2012). An analysis of ethical issues in using wastewater analysis to monitor illicit drug use. Addiction, 107 (10), 1767-1773. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.03887.x

An analysis of ethical issues in using wastewater analysis to monitor illicit drug use

2012

Journal Article

Temporal trend of pesticide concentrations in the Chikugo River (Japan) with changes in environmental regulation and field infrastructure

Phong, Thai Khanh, Inoue, Tsuyoshi, Yoshino, Katsunori, Hiramatsu, Kazuaki and Dang, Thi Tuyet Nhung (2012). Temporal trend of pesticide concentrations in the Chikugo River (Japan) with changes in environmental regulation and field infrastructure. Agricultural Water Management, 113, 96-104. doi: 10.1016/j.agwat.2012.07.002

Temporal trend of pesticide concentrations in the Chikugo River (Japan) with changes in environmental regulation and field infrastructure

2012

Journal Article

Fate and transport of bensulfuron-methyl and imazosulfuron in paddy fields: Experiments and model simulation

Takagi, Kazuhiro, Fajardo, Ferdinand F., Ishizaka, Masumi, Phong, Thai Khanh, Watanabe, Hirozumi and Boulange, Julien (2012). Fate and transport of bensulfuron-methyl and imazosulfuron in paddy fields: Experiments and model simulation. Paddy and Water Environment, 10 (2), 139-151. doi: 10.1007/s10333-011-0276-0

Fate and transport of bensulfuron-methyl and imazosulfuron in paddy fields: Experiments and model simulation

Funding

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2026
    Microplastic emission in storm water
    ExxonMobil Global Services Company
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2025
    Estimating tobacco consumption trend in Australia
    Australian Taxation Office
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Using multiple data sources to understand the opioid crisis in Australia
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2028
    Monitoring nicotine: Triangulating social media, global survey and wastewater data to inform future vaping and smoking policies
    NHMRC IDEAS Grants
    Open grant
  • 2023 - 2027
    National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program
    Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Understanding third hand exposure of Australian people to methamphetamine
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2025
    Understanding Australia by analysing wastewater during the Census 2021
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Human exposure to PFAS and their precursors in the human environment and their biotransformation processes
    NHMRC Targeted Research
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2025
    Realistic assessment of biomarker transformation in the wastewater system
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Evaluation of PFAS release from impacted concrete
    Arcadis US Inc
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Estimating use of tobacco and nicotine products through wastewater analysis
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2023
    Wearing masks to reduce traffic-related air pollution exposure and improve children's respiratory health
    NHMRC-NAFOSTED Joint Call for Collaborative Research Projects Grants
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2020
    Estimating per capita use and release of chemicals by wastewater analysis
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    Understanding the fate and transport of selected biomarkers in sewers
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Evaluating temporal and spatial changes in consumption of new psychoactive substances in Queensland by retrospective analysis of archived wastewater samples
    Queensland Health
    Open grant
  • 2014
    Developing an approach to identifying and qualifying novel psychoactive substance (NPS) consumed in Australia
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013
    UWA/UQ joint project on sewer epidemiology
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Testing of Articles for Persistent Organic Pollutants
    UniQuest Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Establishing a method for estimating the consumption of emerging psychoactive substances through wastewater analysis
    UQ Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    Dissipation of major illicit drugs and their metabolites in the sewer system
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Associate Professor Phong Thai is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

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communications@uq.edu.au