Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer
Associate Professor Phong Thai
Associate Professor

Phong Thai

Email: 

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

181 - 200 of 280 works

2017

Journal Article

Emission factors for selected semivolatile organic chemicals from burning of tropical biomass fuels and estimation of Annual Australian Emissions

Wang, Xianyu, Meyer, Carl P., Reisen, Fabienne, Keywood, Melita, Thai, Phong K., Hawker, Darryl W., Powell, Jennifer and Mueller, Jochen F. (2017). Emission factors for selected semivolatile organic chemicals from burning of tropical biomass fuels and estimation of Annual Australian Emissions. Environmental Science & Technology, 51 (17), 9644-9652. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01392

Emission factors for selected semivolatile organic chemicals from burning of tropical biomass fuels and estimation of Annual Australian Emissions

2017

Journal Article

Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used to evaluate the health impact of temperature? – an exploratory study in an Australian population

Phung, Dung, Mueller, Jochen, Lai, Foon Yin, O'Brien, Jake, Dang, Nhung, Morawska, Lidia and Thai, Phong K. (2017). Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used to evaluate the health impact of temperature? – an exploratory study in an Australian population. Environmental Research, 156, 113-119. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.03.023

Can wastewater-based epidemiology be used to evaluate the health impact of temperature? – an exploratory study in an Australian population

2017

Journal Article

Emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds and their secondary organic aerosol formation potentials from a petroleum refinery in Pearl River Delta, China

Zhang, Zhijuan, Wang, Hao, Chen, Dan, Li, Qinqin, Thai, Phong, Gong, Daocheng, Li, Yang, Zhang, Chunlin, Gu, Yinggang, Zhou, Lei, Morawska, Lidia and Wang, Boguang (2017). Emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds and their secondary organic aerosol formation potentials from a petroleum refinery in Pearl River Delta, China. Science of the Total Environment, 584-585, 1162-1174. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.179

Emission characteristics of volatile organic compounds and their secondary organic aerosol formation potentials from a petroleum refinery in Pearl River Delta, China

2017

Journal Article

Impact of in-sewer degradation of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) population markers on a population model

O'Brien, Jake William, Banks, Andrew Philip William, Novic, Andrew Joseph, Mueller, Jochen F., Jiang, Guangming, Ort, Christoph, Eaglesham, Geoff, Yuan, Zhiguo and Thai, Phong K. (2017). Impact of in-sewer degradation of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) population markers on a population model. Environmental Science and Technology, 51 (7), 3816-3823. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b02755

Impact of in-sewer degradation of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) population markers on a population model

2017

Journal Article

An exploratory wastewater analysis study of drug use in Auckland, New Zealand

Lai, Foon Yin, Wilkins, Chris, Thai, Phong and Mueller, Jochen F. (2017). An exploratory wastewater analysis study of drug use in Auckland, New Zealand. Drug and Alcohol Review, 36 (5), 597-601. doi: 10.1111/dar.12509

An exploratory wastewater analysis study of drug use in Auckland, New Zealand

2017

Journal Article

Development and validation of a multi-residue method for the analysis of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in indoor dust

He, Chang, Wang, Xianyu, Thai, Phong, Mueller, Jochen F., Gallen, Christie, Li, Yan and Baduel, Christine (2017). Development and validation of a multi-residue method for the analysis of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in indoor dust. Talanta, 164, 503-510. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2016.10.108

Development and validation of a multi-residue method for the analysis of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in indoor dust

2017

Journal Article

Emissions of selected semivolatile organic chemicals from forest and savannah fires

Wang, Xianyu, Thai, Phong K., Mallet, Marc, Desservettaz, Maximilien, Hawker, Darryl W., Keywood, Melita, Miljevic, Branka, Paton-Walsh, Clare, Gallen, Michael and Mueller, Jochen F. (2017). Emissions of selected semivolatile organic chemicals from forest and savannah fires. Environmental Science and Technology, 51 (3), 1293-1302. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.6b03503

Emissions of selected semivolatile organic chemicals from forest and savannah fires

2017

Journal Article

Spatial distribution of elemental concentrations in street dust of Hanoi, Vietnam

Phi, Thai Ha , Chinh, Pham Minh , Nguyen, The Hung, Ly, Luong Thi Mai and Thai, Phong K. (2017). Spatial distribution of elemental concentrations in street dust of Hanoi, Vietnam. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 98 (2), 277-282. doi: 10.1007/s00128-016-2001-6

Spatial distribution of elemental concentrations in street dust of Hanoi, Vietnam

2017

Journal Article

A review of biomass burning: Emissions and impacts on air quality, health and climate in China

Chen, Jianmin, Li, Chunlin, Ristovski, Zoran, Milic, Andelija, Gu, Yuantong, Islam, Mohammad S., Wang, Shuxiao, Hao, Jiming, Zhang, Hefeng, He, Congrong, Guo, Hai, Fu, Hongbo, Miljevic, Branka, Morawska, Lidia, Phong Thai, Fat, Yun L. A. M., Pereira, Gavin, Ding, Aijun, Huang, Xin and Dumka, Umesh C. (2017). A review of biomass burning: Emissions and impacts on air quality, health and climate in China. Science of the Total Environment, 579, 1000-1034. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.025

A review of biomass burning: Emissions and impacts on air quality, health and climate in China

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

The association between particulate air pollution and respiratory admissions among young children in Hanoi, Vietnam

2017

Journal Article

Biomarkers of the health outcomes associated with ambient particulate matter exposure

Yang, Lixin, Hou, Xiang-Yu, Wei, Yongjie, Thai, Phong and Chai, Fahe (2017). Biomarkers of the health outcomes associated with ambient particulate matter exposure. Science of the Total Environment, 579, 1446-1459. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.146

Biomarkers of the health outcomes associated with ambient particulate matter exposure

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.

Wastewater analysis: a tool for measuring population consumption of chemicals and release of chemicals to the environment

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.

Using wastewater analysis to find population and demographic markers in wastewater

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.

Wastewater analysis of substance use: implications for law, policy and research

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.

Using wastewater analysis to find demographic markers

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.

Association between purity of seized drugs with their daily loads measured in wastewater in an Australian catchment from 2010-2015

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.

Finding population and demographic markers in wastewater using samples collected during a population census

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

Measuring selected PPCPs in wastewater to estimate the population in different cities in China

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

Spatial variations in the consumption of illicit stimulant drugs across Australia: a nationwide application of wastewater-based epidemiology

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

Refining the excretion factors of methadone and codeine for wastewater analysis - combining data from pharmacokinetic and wastewater studies

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

For media enquiries about Associate Professor Phong Thai's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au