The University of Queensland

Predicted Growth in Plastics Entering Biosolids and Agricultural Lands Exceeds Efforts to Control Source Emissions

Okoffo, Elvis D., Tscharke, Ben J. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). Predicted Growth in Plastics Entering Biosolids and Agricultural Lands Exceeds Efforts to Control Source Emissions. ACS ES&T Water, 3 (8), 2238-2246. doi: 10.1021/acsestwater.3c00037

There's something in the air: a review of sources, prevalence and behaviour of microplastics in the atmosphere

O'Brien, Stacey, Rauert, Cassandra, Ribeiro, Francisca, Okoffo, Elvis D., Burrows, Stephen D., O'Brien, Jake W., Wang, Xianyu, Wright, Stephanie L. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). There's something in the air: a review of sources, prevalence and behaviour of microplastics in the atmosphere. Science of the Total Environment, 874 162193, 1-33. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162193

Microplastics in agroecosystems: A review of effects on soil biota and key soil functions

Shafea, Leila, Yap, Julia, Beriot, Nicolas, Felde, Vincent J. M. N. L., Okoffo, Elvis D., Enyoh, Christian Ebere and Peth, Stephan (2023). Microplastics in agroecosystems: A review of effects on soil biota and key soil functions. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science, 186 (1), 5-22. doi: 10.1002/jpln.202200136

Mass quantification of microplastic at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Okoffo, Elvis D., Rauert, Cassandra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). Mass quantification of microplastic at wastewater treatment plants by pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Science of the Total Environment, 856 (Part 2) 159251, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159251

Assessment of background plastics contamination from human respiratory tract sample collection vessels

Okoffo, Elvis D., Rauert, Cassandra, Boots, Robert, Fielding, David, Bashiradeh, Farzard, Singh, Mahendra and Thomas, Kevin V. (2023). Assessment of background plastics contamination from human respiratory tract sample collection vessels. Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics, 1 (1), 4. doi: 10.20517/wecn.2022.22

Identification and quantification of micro-bioplastics in environmental samples by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Okoffo, Elvis D., Chan, Clement Matthew, Rauert, Cassandra, Kaserzon, Sarit and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Identification and quantification of micro-bioplastics in environmental samples by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (19), 13774-13785. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04091

Occurrence of tire and road wear particles in urban and peri-urban snowbanks, and their potential environmental implications

Rødland, Elisabeth S., Lind, Ole Christian, Reid, Malcolm J., Heier, Lene S., Okoffo, Elvis D., Rauert, Cassandra, Thomas, Kevin V. and Meland, Sondre (2022). Occurrence of tire and road wear particles in urban and peri-urban snowbanks, and their potential environmental implications. Science of The Total Environment, 824 153785, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153785

The message on the bottle: rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use

Burrows, Stephen D., Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Stacey, Okoffo, Elvis, Toapanta, Tania, Charlton, Nathan, Kaserzon, Sarit, Lin, Chun-Yin, Tang, Cheng, Rauert, Cassandra, Wang, Xianyu, Shimko, Katja, O'Brien, Jake, Townsend, Piers A., Grayson, Matthew N., Galloway, Tamara and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). The message on the bottle: rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use. Environmental Science and Policy, 132, 109-118. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.015

Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids

Okoffo, Elvis D., O'Brien, Stacey, O'Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Benjamin J., Rauert, Cassandra, Rødland, Elisabeth S., Ribeiro, Francisca, Burrows, Stephen D., Toapanta, Tania, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Does size matter? Quantification of plastics associated with size fractionated biosolids. Science of The Total Environment, 811 152382, 152382. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152382

Assessment of farmers' knowledge and pesticides management in cocoa production in Ghana

Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y., Okoffo, Elvis D. and Mensah, Michael (2022). Assessment of farmers' knowledge and pesticides management in cocoa production in Ghana. International Journal of Advanced and Applied Sciences, 9 (3), 100-110. doi: 10.21833/ijaas.2022.03.012

A novel method for the quantification of tire and polymer-modified bitumen particles in environmental samples by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy

Rødland, Elisabeth S., Samanipour, Saer, Rauert, Cassandra, Okoffo, Elvis D., Reid, Malcom J., Heier, Lene S., Lind, Ole Christian, Thomas, Kevin V. and Meland, Sondre (2022). A novel method for the quantification of tire and polymer-modified bitumen particles in environmental samples by pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 423 (Pt A) 127092, 127092. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127092

Phthalate esters in face masks and associated inhalation exposure risk

Wang, Xianyu, Okoffo, Elvis D., Banks, Andrew P. W., Li, Yan, Thomas, Kevin V., Rauert, Cassandra, Aylward, Lesa L. and Mueller, Jochen F. (2022). Phthalate esters in face masks and associated inhalation exposure risk. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 423 (Pt A) 127001, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127001

Concentrations of tire additive chemicals and tire road wear particles in an Australian urban tributary

Rauert, Cassandra, Charlton, Nathan, Okoffo, Elvis D., Stanton, Ryan S., Agua, Alon R., Pirrung, Michael C. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2022). Concentrations of tire additive chemicals and tire road wear particles in an Australian urban tributary. Environmental Science and Technology, 56 (4), 2421-2431. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07451

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. doi: 10.20517/jeea.2022.04

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Identification and quantification of selected plastics in biosolids by pressurized liquid extraction combined with double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

Okoffo, Elvis D., Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Jake W., O'Brien, Stacey, Tscharke, Benjamin J., Gallen, Michael, Samanipour, Saer, Mueller, Jochen F. and Thomas, Kevin V. (2020). Identification and quantification of selected plastics in biosolids by pressurized liquid extraction combined with double-shot pyrolysis gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Science of the Total Environment, 715 136924, 1. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136924

Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate

Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, O'Brien, Stacey, O’Brien, Jake W., Tscharke, Ben and Thomas, Kevin V. (2019). Wastewater treatment plants as a source of plastics in the environment: a review of occurrence, methods for identification, quantification and fate. Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology, 5 (11), 1908-1931. doi: 10.1039/c9ew00428a

What are the drivers of cocoa farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation strategies in Ghana?

Denkyirah, Elisha Kwaku, Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Adu, Derick Taylor and Bosompem, Ohene Asa (2017). What are the drivers of cocoa farmers’ choice of climate change adaptation strategies in Ghana?. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 3 (1), 1334296. doi: 10.1080/23311932.2017.1334296

Contamination levels of organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides in cocoa beans from Ghana

Okoffo, Elvis D., Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y. and Gordon, Christopher (2017). Contamination levels of organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides in cocoa beans from Ghana. Food Control, 73, 1371-1378. doi: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2016.11.004

Modeling Ghanaian cocoa farmers' decision to use pesticide and frequency of application: the case of Brong Ahafo Region

Denkyirah, Elisha Kwaku, Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Adu, Derick Taylor, Aziz, Ahmed Abdul, Ofori, Amoako and Denkyirah, Elijah Kofi (2016). Modeling Ghanaian cocoa farmers' decision to use pesticide and frequency of application: the case of Brong Ahafo Region. Springerplus, 5 (1) 1113. doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-2779-z

A double-hurdle model estimation of cocoa farmers' willingness to pay for crop insurance in Ghana

Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Denkyirah, Elisha Kwaku, Adu, Derick Taylor and Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Yayra (2016). A double-hurdle model estimation of cocoa farmers' willingness to pay for crop insurance in Ghana. SpringerPlus, 5 (1) 873. doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-2561-2

Assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa farms in Ghana

Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y., Okoffo, Elvis D., Darko, Godfred and Gordon, Christopher (2016). Assessment of organochlorine pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa farms in Ghana. Springerplus, 5 (1) 869. doi: 10.1186/s40064-016-2352-9

Pesticides exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana

Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Mensah, Michael and Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Yayra (2016). Pesticides exposure and the use of personal protective equipment by cocoa farmers in Ghana. Environmental Systems Research, 5 (1) 17, 17. doi: 10.1186/s40068-016-0068-z

Synthetic pyrethroids pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa farms in Ghana

Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y., Okoffo, Elvis D. and Mensah, Michael (2016). Synthetic pyrethroids pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa farms in Ghana. Environment and Pollution, 5 (1), 60-72. doi: 10.5539/ep.v5n1p60

Access to credit and constraint analysis: the case of smallholder rice farmers in Ghana

Denkyirah, Elisha Kwaku, Aziz, Ahmed Abdul, Denkyirah, Elijah Kofi, Nketiah, Ofori Obeng and Okoffo, Elvis Dartey (2016). Access to credit and constraint analysis: the case of smallholder rice farmers in Ghana. Journal of Agricultural Studies, 4 (2), 53-72. doi: 10.5296/jas.v4i2.9167

Organophosphorus pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa producing areas in Ghana

Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Yayra, Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Darko, Godfred and Gordon, Christopher (2016). Organophosphorus pesticide residues in soils and drinking water sources from cocoa producing areas in Ghana. Environmental Systems Research, 5 (1) 10. doi: 10.1186/s40068-016-0063-4

Analysis of the factors influencing smallholder rice farmers’ access to credit in the upper east region of Ghana

Denkyirah, Elisha, Adu, Derick, Aziz, Ahmed, Denkyirah, Elijah and Okoffo, Elvis (2016). Analysis of the factors influencing smallholder rice farmers’ access to credit in the upper east region of Ghana. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 10 (4), 1-11. doi: 10.9734/ajaees/2016/24768

Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in cocoa beans from Ghana, a concern for public health

Okoffo, Elvis D., Fosu-Mensah, Benedicta Y. and Gordon, Christopher (2016). Persistent organochlorine pesticide residues in cocoa beans from Ghana, a concern for public health. International Journal of Food Contamination, 3 (1) 5. doi: 10.1186/s40550-016-0028-4

Microplastics quantification in complex environment samples using combined solvent extraction and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Okoffo, Elvis Dartey, Ribeiro, Francisca, O'Brien, Stacey, O'Brien, Jake, Gallen, Michael and Thomas, Kevin (2019). Microplastics quantification in complex environment samples using combined solvent extraction and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fall National Meeting and Exposition of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), San Diego, CA United States, 25-29 August 2019. Washington, DC United States: American Chemical Society.

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