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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

41 - 60 of 280 works

2023

Journal Article

Methamphetamine contamination in residential properties and their remediation in Queensland, Australia

Gao, Jianfa, Culshaw, Peter, Ngo, Hieu K.T., Howell, John, Le, Hong H.T.C., Yang, Mengting and Thai, Phong K. (2023). Methamphetamine contamination in residential properties and their remediation in Queensland, Australia. Forensic Science International: Reports, 7 100311. doi: 10.1016/j.fsir.2023.100311

Methamphetamine contamination in residential properties and their remediation in Queensland, Australia

2023

Journal Article

Predicting the long-term effects of electronic cigarette use on population health: a systematic review of modelling studies

Vu, Giang T, Stjepanović, Daniel, Sun, Tianze, Leung, Janni, Chung, Jack, Connor, Jason, Thai, Phong K, Gartner, Coral E, Tran, Bach Xuan, Hall, Wayne D and Chan, Gary (2023). Predicting the long-term effects of electronic cigarette use on population health: a systematic review of modelling studies. Tobacco Control, 33 (6) tc-2022-057748, 1-8. doi: 10.1136/tc-2022-057748

Predicting the long-term effects of electronic cigarette use on population health: a systematic review of modelling studies

2023

Journal Article

Improving wastewater-based tobacco use estimates using anabasine

Zheng, Qiuda, Gerber, Cobus, Steadman, Kathryn J., Lin, Chun-Yin, Tscharke, Benjamin J., O’Brien, Jake William, Hobson, Peter, Toms, Leisa-Maree, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V. and Thai, Phong K. (2023). Improving wastewater-based tobacco use estimates using anabasine. Environmental Science and Technology, 57 (21), 7958-7965. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01510

Improving wastewater-based tobacco use estimates using anabasine

2023

Book Chapter

Population biomarkers for wastewater-based epidemiology

O'Brien, Jake W., Thai, Phong K. and Tscharke, Benjamin J. (2023). Population biomarkers for wastewater-based epidemiology. Wastewater-based epidemiology for the assessment of human exposure to environmental pollutants. (pp. 123-138) edited by Mohammad Hadi Dehghani, Rama Rao Karri, Nikolaos Rousis and Emma Gracia-Lor. London, United Kingdom: Academic Press. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-443-19172-5.00005-6

Population biomarkers for wastewater-based epidemiology

2023

Journal Article

The use of asthma and allergy medicines is associated with exposure to smoking

Thai, Phong K., Zheng, Qiuda, Phung, Dung, Gartner, Coral, Hall, Wayne, Ren, Yuan, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). The use of asthma and allergy medicines is associated with exposure to smoking. Nature Water, 1 (5) 16, 443-450. doi: 10.1038/s44221-023-00076-7

The use of asthma and allergy medicines is associated with exposure to smoking

2023

Journal Article

Visualization of the distribution of PFOS and PFHxS in concrete by DESI MSI

Vo, Phong H. N., Hamilton, Brett R., Wepf, Roger A., Key, Trent A., Nguyen, Thi Minh Hong, Thai, Phong K., Thomas, Kevin and Mueller, Jochen F. (2023). Visualization of the distribution of PFOS and PFHxS in concrete by DESI MSI. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 10 (5), 446-451. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00211

Visualization of the distribution of PFOS and PFHxS in concrete by DESI MSI

2023

Journal Article

Use of artificial sweeteners and caffeine in a population of Hanoi: an assessment by wastewater-based epidemiology

Li, Dandan, Zheng, Qiuda, Thomas, Kevin V., Dang, Anh Kim, Binh, Vu Ngan, Anh, Nguyen Thi Kieu and Thai, Phong K. (2023). Use of artificial sweeteners and caffeine in a population of Hanoi: an assessment by wastewater-based epidemiology. Science of The Total Environment, 868 161515, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161515

Use of artificial sweeteners and caffeine in a population of Hanoi: an assessment by wastewater-based epidemiology

2023

Journal Article

Wastewater surveillance can function as an early warning system for COVID-19 in low-incidence settings

Assoum, Mohamad, Lau, Colleen L., Thai, Phong K., Ahmed, Warish, Mueller, Jochen F., Thomas, Kevin V., Choi, Phil Min, Jackson, Greg and Selvey, Linda A. (2023). Wastewater surveillance can function as an early warning system for COVID-19 in low-incidence settings. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 8 (4) 211, 1-10. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040211

Wastewater surveillance can function as an early warning system for COVID-19 in low-incidence settings

2023

Journal Article

Structure-activity relationships for hypervalent iodine electrocatalysis

Frey, Brandon L., Thai, Phong, Patel, Lauv and Powers, David C. (2023). Structure-activity relationships for hypervalent iodine electrocatalysis. Synthesis, 55 (18), 3019-3025. doi: 10.1055/a-2029-0617

Structure-activity relationships for hypervalent iodine electrocatalysis

2023

Journal Article

Selective multi-electron aggregation at a hypervalent iodine center by sequential disproportionation

Thai, Phong, Frey, Brandon L., Figgins, Matthew T., Thompson, Richard R., Carmieli, Raanan and Powers, David C. (2023). Selective multi-electron aggregation at a hypervalent iodine center by sequential disproportionation. Chemical Communications, 59 (29), 4308-4311. doi: 10.1039/d3cc00549f

Selective multi-electron aggregation at a hypervalent iodine center by sequential disproportionation

2023

Journal Article

Increased nicotine consumption in Australia during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic

Thai, Phong K, Tscharke, Benjamin J, O’Brien, Jake, Gartner, Coral, Bade, Richard, Gerber, Cobus, White, Jason M, Zheng, Qiuda, Wang, Zhe, Thomas, Kevin V and Mueller, Jochen F (2023). Increased nicotine consumption in Australia during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 25 (6), 1194-1197. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntac275

Increased nicotine consumption in Australia during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic

2023

Journal Article

Impact of sewer biofilms on fate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and wastewater surveillance

Li, Jiaying, Ahmed, Warish, Metcalfe, Suzanne, Smith, Wendy J. M., Choi, Phil M., Jackson, Greg, Cen, Xiaotong, Zheng, Min, Simpson, Stuart L., Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2023). Impact of sewer biofilms on fate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and wastewater surveillance. Nature Water, 1 (3), 272-280. doi: 10.1038/s44221-023-00033-4

Impact of sewer biofilms on fate of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and wastewater surveillance

2023

Journal Article

A wastewater‐based evaluation of the effectiveness of codeine control measures in Australia

Tscharke, Benjamin J., O’Brien, Jake W., Ahmed, Fahad, Ngyuen, Lynn, Ghetia, Maulik, Chan, Gary, Thai, Phong, Gerber, Cobus, Bade, Richard, Mueller, Jochen, Thomas, Kevin V., White, Jason and Hall, Wayne (2023). A wastewater‐based evaluation of the effectiveness of codeine control measures in Australia. Addiction, 118 (3), 480-488. doi: 10.1111/add.16083

A wastewater‐based evaluation of the effectiveness of codeine control measures in Australia

2023

Journal Article

Spatiotemporal trends and impact of Covid-19 lockdown on eight sewage contaminants in Brisbane, Australia, from 2012 to 2020

Vo, Phong H. N., Tscharke, Ben, Toft, Sonja, Madsen, Craig, Nguyen, Kim Qui, Nguyen, Hong T. M., Bui, Xuan Thanh, Li, Jiaying and Thai, Phong K. (2023). Spatiotemporal trends and impact of Covid-19 lockdown on eight sewage contaminants in Brisbane, Australia, from 2012 to 2020. Chemosphere, 314 137702, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137702

Spatiotemporal trends and impact of Covid-19 lockdown on eight sewage contaminants in Brisbane, Australia, from 2012 to 2020

2023

Conference Publication

Children respiratory health during COVID-19 lockdown and after 6-month re-exposure to poor air quality

Le, Hong, Pham, An, Nguyen, Vinh, Ware, Robert, Phung, Dung, Thai, Phong, Ranganathan, Sarath, Tran, Dang, To, Hien and Sly, Peter (2023). Children respiratory health during COVID-19 lockdown and after 6-month re-exposure to poor air quality. 26th Congress of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology Above and Beyond, Seoul, Korea, 17–20 November 2022. Richmond, VIC Australia: John Wiley and Sons. doi: 10.1111/resp.14433

Children respiratory health during COVID-19 lockdown and after 6-month re-exposure to poor air quality

2023

Journal Article

Nation-wide wastewater-based epidemiology assessment of Metformin usage in China: 2014–2020

Zheng, Qiuda, Du, Peng, Wang, Zhe, Zhang, Lingrong, Zhu, Zhu, Huang, Jingjing, Wang, Zhenglu, Hall, Wayne, Dang, Anh Kim, Wang, Degao, Li, Xiqing and Thai, Phong K. (2023). Nation-wide wastewater-based epidemiology assessment of Metformin usage in China: 2014–2020. ACS ES and T Water, 3 (1), 195-202. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00489

Nation-wide wastewater-based epidemiology assessment of Metformin usage in China: 2014–2020

2022

Journal Article

Assessing changes in nicotine consumption over two years in a population of Hanoi by wastewater analysis with benchmarking biomarkers

Thanh, Bui Xuan, Vu, Giang T., Hue, Tran Thi Thanh, Zheng, Qiuda, Chan, Gary, Anh, Nguyen Thi Kieu and Thai, Phong K. (2022). Assessing changes in nicotine consumption over two years in a population of Hanoi by wastewater analysis with benchmarking biomarkers. Science of the Total Environment, 846 157310, 157310. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157310

Assessing changes in nicotine consumption over two years in a population of Hanoi by wastewater analysis with benchmarking biomarkers

2022

Journal Article

Release of perfluoroalkyl substances from AFFF-impacted concrete in a firefighting training ground (FTG) under repeated rainfall simulations

Thai, Phong K., McDonough, Jeffrey T., Key, Trent A., Thompson, Jack, Prasad, Pritesh, Porman, Scott and Mueller, Jochen F. (2022). Release of perfluoroalkyl substances from AFFF-impacted concrete in a firefighting training ground (FTG) under repeated rainfall simulations. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 3 100050, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.hazl.2022.100050

Release of perfluoroalkyl substances from AFFF-impacted concrete in a firefighting training ground (FTG) under repeated rainfall simulations

2022

Journal Article

Refining the estimation of amphetamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology

Gao, Jianfa, Burgard, Daniel A., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake W., Nguyen, Hien D., Zheng, Qiuda, Li, Jiaying, Du, Peng, Li, Xiqing, Wang, Degao, Castiglioni, Sara, Cruz-Cruz, Copytzy, Baz-Lomba, Jose Antonio, Yargeau, Viviane, Emke, Erik, Thomas, Kevin V., Mueller, Jochen F. and Thai, Phong K. (2022). Refining the estimation of amphetamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology. Water Research, 225 119182, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119182

Refining the estimation of amphetamine consumption by wastewater-based epidemiology

2022

Journal Article

Anthropometric Cut-Off Values for Detecting the Presence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Multiple Components among Adults in Vietnam: The Role of Novel Indices

Dang, Anh Kim, Truong, Mai Tuyet, Le, Huong Thi, Nguyen, Khan Cong, Le, Mai Bach, Nguyen, Lam Thi, Do, Khanh Nam, Nguyen, Lan Huong Thi, Mamun, Abdullah A., Phung, Dung and Thai, Phong K. (2022). Anthropometric Cut-Off Values for Detecting the Presence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Multiple Components among Adults in Vietnam: The Role of Novel Indices. Nutrients, 14 (19) 4024, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/nu14194024

Anthropometric Cut-Off Values for Detecting the Presence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Multiple Components among Adults in Vietnam: The Role of Novel Indices

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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