Overview
Background
Dr. Elvis Okoffo is a Research Fellow at the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, Australia. His research is centred on developing innovative analytical methods to characterize and monitor environmental and human exposures associated with plastics. He has pioneered novel sampling approaches and analytical techniques for the rapid screening and monitoring of various types of plastics, including microplastics, nanoplastics, and biodegradable plastics in environmental samples (e.g., drinking water, wastewater, biosolids, seafood, marine water and sediments, compost, food, road dust, among others). By leveraging cutting-edge technologies (such as pressurised liquid extraction, ultrafiltration and pyrolysis gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry) and scientific methodologies, his research aims to provide valuable insights into the distribution, abundance, and impacts of plastic pollution, ultimately contributing to the development of effective strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of plastic pollution on ecosystems and human health.
Availability
- Dr Elvis Okoffo is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours), University for Development Studies
- Masters (Research), University of Ghana
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Works
Search Professor Elvis Okoffo’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content
Rauert, Cassandra, Pan, Yufei, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Extraction and pyrolysis-GC-MS analysis of polyethylene in samples with medium to high lipid content. Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, 1 (2) 13, 13-2. doi: 10.20517/jeea.2022.04
2021
Other Outputs
An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids
Okoffo, Elvis Dartey (2021). An assessment of plastic residues in Australian biosolids. PhD Thesis, School of Pharmacy, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/df49a13
2021
Journal Article
Investigating the current status of COVID-19 related plastics and their potential impact on human health
De-la-Torre, Gabriel Enrique, Pizarro-Ortega, Carlos Ivan, Dioses-Salinas, Diana Carolina, Ammendolia, Justine and Okoffo, Elvis D. (2021). Investigating the current status of COVID-19 related plastics and their potential impact on human health. Current Opinion in Toxicology, 27, 47-53. doi: 10.1016/j.cotox.2021.08.002
2021
Journal Article
Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust
O’Brien, Stacey, Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Rauert, Cassandra, O’Brien, Jake W., Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Quantification of selected microplastics in Australian urban road dust. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416 125811, 125811. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125811
2021
Journal Article
Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016
Okoffo, Elvis D., Donner, Erica, McGrath, Steve P., Tscharke, Benjamin J., O'Brien, Jake W., O'Brien, Stacey, Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Rauert, Cassandra, Samanipour, Saer, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastics contamination in archived biosolids from 1950 to 2016. Water Research, 201 117367, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117367
2021
Journal Article
Plastics contamination of store-bought rice
Dessì, Claudia, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W., Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Rauert, Cassandra, Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastics contamination of store-bought rice. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 416 125778, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125778
2021
Journal Article
Influence of surface oxidation on the quantification of polypropylene microplastics by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry
Toapanta, Tania, Okoffo, Elvis D., Ede, Sarah, O'Brien, Stacey, Burrows, Stephen D., Ribeiro, Francisca, Gallen, Michael, Colwell, John, Whittaker, Andrew K., Kaserzon, Sarit and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Influence of surface oxidation on the quantification of polypropylene microplastics by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Science of the Total Environment, 796 148835, 148835. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148835
2021
Journal Article
Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia
Li, Dandan, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Okoffo, Elvis D., Mueller, Jochen F., Sun, Hongwen and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Artificial sweeteners in end-use biosolids in Australia. Water Research, 200 117237, 1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117237
2021
Journal Article
Out of sight but not out of mind: size fractionation of plastics bioaccumulated by field deployed oysters
Ribeiro, Francisca, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W., O’Brien, Stacey, Harris, Jonathan M., Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Mueller, Jochen F., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Out of sight but not out of mind: size fractionation of plastics bioaccumulated by field deployed oysters. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 2 100021, 100021. doi: 10.1016/j.hazl.2021.100021
2021
Journal Article
Microparticles and microplastics contamination in African table salts
Fadare, Oluniyi O., Okoffo, Elvis D. and Olasehinde, Emmanuel F. (2021). Microparticles and microplastics contamination in African table salts. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 164 112006, 112006. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112006
2021
Journal Article
Microplastics in African ecosystems: current knowledge, abundance, associated contaminants, techniques, and research needs
Alimi, Olubukola S., Fadare, Oluniyi O. and Okoffo, Elvis D. (2021). Microplastics in African ecosystems: current knowledge, abundance, associated contaminants, techniques, and research needs. Science of the Total Environment, 755 (Pt 1) 142422, 142422. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142422
2021
Journal Article
Challenges with quantifying tire road wear particles: recognizing the need for further refinement of the ISO technical specification
Rauert, Cassandra, Rødland, Elisabeth S., Okoffo, Elvis D., Reid, Malcolm J., Meland, Sondre and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Challenges with quantifying tire road wear particles: recognizing the need for further refinement of the ISO technical specification. Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 8 (3) acs.estlett.0c00949, 231-236. doi: 10.1021/acs.estlett.0c00949
2021
Journal Article
Plastic particles in soil: state of the knowledge on sources, occurrence and distribution, analytical methods and ecological impacts
Okoffo, Elvis D., O'Brien, Stacey, Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Rauert, Cassandra, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Wang, Xianyu and Thomas, Kevin V. (2021). Plastic particles in soil: state of the knowledge on sources, occurrence and distribution, analytical methods and ecological impacts. Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts, 23 (2), 240-274. doi: 10.1039/d0em00312c
2020
Journal Article
Airborne emissions of microplastic fibres from domestic laundry dryers
O'Brien, Stacey, Okoffo, Elvis D., O'Brien, Jake W., Ribeiro, Francisca, Wang, Xianyu, Wright, Stephanie L., Samanipour, Saer, Rauert, Cassandra, Toapanta, Tania Yessenia Alajo, Albarracin, Rizsa and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Airborne emissions of microplastic fibres from domestic laundry dryers. Science of the Total Environment, 747 141175, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141175
2020
Journal Article
Release of plastics to Australian land from biosolids end-use
Okoffo, Elvis D., Tscharke, Benjamin J., O'Brien, Jake W., O'Brien, Stacey, Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Choi, Phil M., Wang, Xianyu, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin (2020). Release of plastics to Australian land from biosolids end-use. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (23), 15132-15141. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05867
2020
Journal Article
Response to comment on “Quantitative analysis of selected plastics in high-commercial-value Australian seafood by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry”
Ribeiro, Francisca, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W., Fraissinet-Tachet, Sarah, O’Brien, Stacey, Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Mueller, Jochen F., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Response to comment on “Quantitative analysis of selected plastics in high-commercial-value Australian seafood by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry”. Environmental Science and Technology, 54 (23), 15556-15557. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c07097
2020
Journal Article
Road de-icing salt: Assessment of a potential new source and pathway of microplastics particles from roads
Rødland, Elisabeth S., Okoffo, Elvis D., Rauert, Cassandra, Heier, Lene S., Lind, Ole Christian, Reid, Malcolm, Thomas, Kevin V. and Meland, Sondre (2020). Road de-icing salt: Assessment of a potential new source and pathway of microplastics particles from roads. Science of the Total Environment, 738 139352, 139352. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139352
2020
Journal Article
Correction to Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Ribeiro, Francisca, Okoffo, Elvis D., O’Brien, Jake W., Fraissinet-Tachet, Sarah, O’Brien, Stacey, Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Mueller, Jochen F., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Correction to Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology, 54 (20), 13364-13364. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05885
2020
Journal Article
Covid-19 face masks: a potential source of microplastic fibers in the environment
Fadare, Oluniyi O. and Okoffo, Elvis D. (2020). Covid-19 face masks: a potential source of microplastic fibers in the environment. Science of the Total Environment, 737 140279, 140279. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140279
2020
Journal Article
Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry
Ribeiro, Francisca, Okoffo, Elvis D., O'Brien, Jake W., Fraissinet-Tachet, Sarah, O'Brien, Stacey, Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Kaserzon, Sarit, Mueller, Jochen F., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Quantitative Analysis of Selected Plastics in High-Commercial-Value Australian Seafood by Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry. Environmental Science & Technology, 54 (15) acs.est.0c02337, 9408-9417. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02337
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Elvis Okoffo is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assessing microplastic inputs from ships
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Rauert, Professor Kevin Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Characterisation and Quantification of Nanoplastics in the Environment Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Development of Specialised Hyphenated Methodologies for Quantifying New Halogenated Plastic Materials
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jake O'Brien, Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Cassandra Rauert
-
Doctor Philosophy
Non-Targeted High-Resolution Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Highly Mobile and Highly Persistent Chemicals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas, Dr Cassandra Rauert, Dr Jake O'Brien
Completed supervision
-
2026
Doctor Philosophy
Microplastic Pollution in Water Systems: Issues and Treatment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Kevin Thomas
-
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating degradation levels and their potential impact on the quantification of microplastics in the environment
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Andrew Whittaker, Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon, Professor Kevin Thomas
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Elvis Okoffo directly for media enquiries about:
- Bioplastics
- Environmental and human exposures associated with plastics
- Microplastics
- Nanoplastics
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