Leigh Thredgold

Dr Leigh Thredgold

Research Fellow

School of Public Health

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Leigh Thredgold is a Research Fellow in the School of Public Health’s Environmental and Occupational Health Unit. Working out of the Adelaide Exposure Science and Health Laboratory his expertise lie in the development of new analytical instruments, techniques and methodology for the identification of chemical analytes and applying them to solve varying scientific problems. His applied research has a strong focus on collaboration and is designed to meet the challenges and achieve practical solutions to issues identified by industry partners.

Adelaide Exposure Science and Health Research Group

Dr Thredgold's research leverages his background in analytical chemistry to explore the pathways and impacts of occupational hazards on human health and society, and leads to the development of effective interventions to control and prevent exposure to hazards in the workplace. Together with Dr Gaskin, he investigates the science of dermal exposure to toxic chemicals using in-vitro human skin models which is translated into practical outcomes and decision making software tools for collaborators and other industries. In addition, he has an interest in both the toxicology and control of exposure to respirable crystalline silica in the engineered stone benchtop industry and has led a funded project on firefighter exposure to combustion chemicals and the effect of elevated temperature conditions. This collaborative program of research is industry focussed with wide applicability across the defence, emergency services, HAZMAT and public health sectors.

Research Project 1

Protecting your skin at work: Using online learning platforms to educate employees about workplace skin health 

Project Description:

Skin diseases such as irritant and allergic contact dermatitis have previously been deemed an occupational disease by Safework Australia. These diseases mainly affect the hands and are common in occupations where the handling of alcohols, cutting fluids, degreasers, disinfectants, petroleum products, soaps and cleaners, solvents, chromates, cobalt, cosmetics and fragrances, epoxy resin, latex, nickel, plants, preservatives, resins an acrylics  and wet work are frequent tasks. In particular high risk industries include agricultural workers, beauticians, chemical workers, cleaners, construction workers, cooks and caterers, electronics workers, hairdressers, health care workers, machine operators, mechanics, metalworkers and vehicle assemblers. Whilst occupational skin disease is relatively common across a wide range of industries there are only limited resources available around skin health at work.

This project aims to design and develop a public health intervention in the form of an interactive online learning module on the prevention of occupational skin disease and workplace skin health more broadly and will build on a program of work at the University of Adelaide, on dermal exposure to chemicals. The outcome of this project will be a tangible prevention education platform that can be supplied to high risk industries with the aim of reducing the incidence of occupational skin disease in these industries.

Project available for: Honours, Masters.

 

Research Project 2

Firefighter chemical exposures and cancer risk assessments.

Project Description:

Firefighters are exposed to smoke and ash during training and emergency firefighting activities that contains chemical combustion products including toxic gases, particles and metals. Skin exposure occurs by way of smoke and gas infiltration through the hood, jacket, trousers and at interface regions of firefighter turnout gear or through cross transfer of contaminants from gear to skin. Of particular concern is the skin around the jaw, neck and crotch as these are areas where gear is most susceptible to penetration. Little is known about the subsequent effect of high temperatures on this dermal exposure process. This is a potential risk to firefighters as they are consistently exposed to these chemicals under high temperature conditions and for potentially lengthy periods of time.

This project will explore the skin exposure science of firefighters in order to understand health risks from skin exposure to toxic substances during firefighting activities. It will involve a mixture of laboratory and field based experimentation to determine the dermal uptake of known human carcinogens in smoke and ash under various conditions. The data generated will then be used to estimate cancer risk and inform recommendations around reducing future risk amongst this occupation.

Project available for: Honours / HDR / Masters / MPhil

 

Research Project 3

Evaluating risk factors for occupational disease arising from dermal exposure to organophosphorus pesticides during agricultural use.

Project Description:

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) are commonly used in the agricultural industry for the control of a wide variety of pests. The primary mode of action is acetylcholinesterase inhibition which causes over stimulation and subsequent prevention of nerve transmission. Whilst this makes OPs extremely effective against insects and other pests it also results in them being highly toxic for human health. There are a number of scientific papers that report on the toxicity of OPs. The primary route of exposure is via inhalation, however significantly less is known about the consequences of other potential exposure routes i.e. dermal exposure during the mixing and spraying of these pesticides in agricultural settings and the resultant risks for occupational disease. This project investigates the ability for selected OPs to penetrate human skin using donated human skin and an in vitro methodology. The data produced is able to be used to determine if dermal exposure to the OPs presents a significant risk for occupational diseases.

Project available for: Third Year / Honours / HDR / Masters / MPhil

 

Research Project 4

Do co-ingredients in agrichemicals lead to increased skin absorption in exposed workers?

Project Description:

The Adelaide Exposure Science and Health Laboratory currently runs a range of research projects around the science of skin exposure to various harmful chemicals. One existing program of work is investigating the exposure risk to agricultural workers arising from direct skin contact with various pesticides. Many of these pesticides are sold commercially as formulated products with a wide range of additional co-solvent ingredients. As such we are interested in exploring the potential effects of these co-solvents on skin permeation outcomes.

This will be a laboratory based project that will utilise a model pesticide and a number of different co-solvents to determine their overall effect on penetration through human skin. The student will utilise an in vitro system and donated human epidermis to perform a range of time based experiments with sample analysis using liquid chromatography. The data obtained will be plotted to compare the amount of pesticide able to penetrate human skin over the exposure timeframe when mixed with each co-solvent. The outcomes of this study will have direct benefit for agricultural workers and chemical manufacturers by providing information around potential exposure risk and additional safety recommendations in relation to skin protection based on product co-ingredients.

Project available for: Third Year / Honours / HDR / Masters / MPhil

 

For details on projects available please view the following booklet: School of Public Health Student Projects

 

 

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  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2021 Research Fellow University of Adelaide
    2017 - 2020 Postdoctoral Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide
    2015 - 2017 Postdoctoral Research Associate Flinders University, Adelaide
    2015 - 2015 Research Assistant Flinders University, Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2019 Award School of Public Health Publication Funding Scheme University of Adelaide Australia $2,000
    2018 Award School of Public Health Publication Funding Scheme University of Adelaide Australia $2000
    2018 Award Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Travel Award University of Adelaide Australia $3,000
    2018 Award Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Research Infrastructure Funding Award University of Adelaide Australia $9,686
    2013 Award Research Student Conference Travel Grant Flinders University Australia $2,700
    2012 Research Award Australian National Fabrication Facility SA Node Start-up Award Australian National Fabrication Facility Australia $2,500
    2011 Scholarship Flinders University Research Scholarship Flinders University Australia $25,000pa
    2010 Scholarship Playford Memorial Trust Honours Research Scholarship Playford Memorial Trust Australia $3,000

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2011 - 2015 Flinders University, Adelaide Australia PhD (Analytical Chemistry)
    2010 - 2010 Flinders University, Adelaide Australia BSc (Hons)
    2007 - 2009 Flinders University, Adelaide Australia BTech (Forensic and Analytical Chemistry)

  • Research Interests
    Translational Health Outcomes Analytical Chemistry Chemical Sciences Environmental & Occupational Health Environmental Chemistry Public Health
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  • Journals
    Year Citation
    2021 Tefera, Y. M., Gaskin, S., Thredgold, L., & Pisaniello, D. (2021). Glove performance in a warming climate: The role of glove material and climate on permeation resistance to organophosphate insecticides. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 18(1), 1-12.
    DOI
    2020 Ween, M. P., Moshensky, A., Thredgold, L. L., Bastian, N. A., Hamon, R., Badiei, A., . . . Hodge, S. J. (2020). E-cigarettes and health risks: more to the flavour than just the name.. American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology.
    DOI
    2020 Ween, M. P., Hamon, R., Macowan, M. G., Thredgold, L., Reynolds, P. R., & Hodge, S. J. (2020). Effects of E-cigarette E-liquid components on bronchial epithelial cells: Demonstration of dysfunctional efferocytosis.. Respirology (Carlton, Vic.), 25(6), 620-628.
    DOI Scopus9 WoS9 Europe PMC4
    2020 Gaskin, S., Thredgold, L., Pisaniello, D., Logan, M., & Baxter, C. (2020). Is the skin an important exposure route for workers during cyanogen fumigation?. Pest Management Science, 76(4), 1443-1447.
    DOI
    2019 Thredgold, L., Gaskin, S., Quy, C., & Pisaniello, D. (2019). Exposure of agriculture workers to pesticides: the effect of heat on protective glove performance and skin exposure to dichlorvos. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(23), 4798-1-4798-11.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS1
    2019 Tefera, Y. M., Thredgold, L., Pisaniello, D., & Gaskin, S. (2019). The greenhouse work environment: a modifier of occupational pesticide exposure?. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 54(10), 817-831.
    DOI Scopus2 WoS2
    2019 Thredgold, L., Gaskin, S., Heath, L., Pisaniello, D., Logan, M., & Baxter, C. (2019). Understanding skin absorption of common aldehyde vapours from exposure during hazardous material incidents. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 30(3), 537-546.
    DOI
    2018 Gaskin, S., Thredgold, L., Heath, L., Pisaniello, D., Logan, M., & Baxter, C. (2018). Empirical data in support of a skin notation for methyl chloride. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 15(8), 569-572.
    DOI
    2018 Thredgold, L., Gaskin, S., Liu, Y., Heath, L., & Pisaniello, D. (2018). Skin Notations for Low-Molecular-Weight Amines: Development of a Testing Protocol with Isopropylamine as an Example. Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 62(5), 633-638.
    DOI
    2015 Thredgold, L., Ellis, A., & Lenehan, C. (2015). Direct detection of histamine in fish flesh using microchip electrophoresis with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection. Analytical Methods, 7(5), 1802-1808.
    DOI Scopus7 WoS6
    2013 Thredgold, L., Khodakov, D., Ellis, A., & Lenehan, C. (2013). On-chip capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection using "injected" metal electrodes. Analyst, 138(15), 4275-4279.
    DOI Scopus20 WoS19 Europe PMC7
    2012 Khodakov, D., Thredgold, L., Lenehan, C., Andersson, G., Kobus, H., & Ellis, A. (2012). DNA capture-probe based separation of double-stranded polymerase chain reaction amplification products in poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic channels. Biomicrofluidics, 6(2), 026503-1-026503-11.
    DOI Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC4
    — Pisaniello, D. (n.d.). Development of a new mineral dust monitoring method incorporating genotoxicity assessment: an aid in cancer prevention.
    DOI
    — Pisaniello, D. (n.d.). Development of a new mineral dust monitoring method incorporating genotoxicity assessment: field measurements.
    DOI

  • Conference Papers
    Year Citation
    2013 Thredgold, L., Khodakov, D., Ellis, A., & Lenehan, C. (2013). Optimization of physical parameters of 'injected' metal electrodes for capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection on poly(dimethylsiloxane) microchips. In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Volume 8923 Micro/Nano Materials, Devices, and Systems Vol. 8923 (pp. 1-9). Online: SPIE.
    DOI
    2011 Khodakov, D., Thredgold, L., Lenehan, C., Andersson, G., Kobus, H., & Ellis, A. (2011). Surface modification of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microchannels with DNA capture-probes for potential use in microfluidic DNA analysis systems. In Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Vol. 8204 (pp. 1-9). Victoria: SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING.
    DOI Scopus2
    2011 Prior, C., Lenehan, C., Turner, A., & Thredgold, L. (2011). Development of Efficient Methodologies for Extraction of Stabilisers from Gun Propellants. In PARARI 2011 Symposium Proceedings. Munitions Safety and Emerging Systems.. Melbourne: Thales Australia.

  • Conference Items
    Year Citation
    2020 Bastian, N., Thredgold, L., Hodge, S., Gomez, M., Yeo, A., & Ween, M. (2020). COIL METAL COMPOSITION PLAYS A ROLE IN E-CIGARETTE TOXICITY AND MACROPHAGE FUNCTION. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESPIROLOGY. WILEY.
    2020 Ween, M., Bastian, N., & Thredgold, L. (2020). E-cigarette Coil Metal Composition Contributes to Epithelial Cell Toxicity and Macrophage Phagocytic Dysfunction. Poster session presented at the meeting of AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE. ELECTR NETWORK: AMER THORACIC SOC.
    2019 Ween, M. P., Bastian, N. A., Thredgold, L., Reynolds, P. N., & Hodge, S. J. (2019). DEVICE, FLAVOUR, AND COIL TEMPERATURE IN AN E-CIGARETTE ALL CONTRIBUTE TO VIABILITY OF PRIMARY BRONCHIAL EPITHELIAL CELLS AND EFFEROCYTOSIS OF APOPTOTIC BRONCHIAL CELLS BY MACROPHAGES. Poster session presented at the meeting of RESPIROLOGY. WILEY.
    2018 Thredgold, L., Gaskin, S., Pisaniello, D., Logan, M., & Baxter, C. (2018). The development and application of a scenario–based test protocol for dermal exposure assessment in HAZMAT incidents. Poster session presented at the meeting of X2018 9th International Conference on the Science of Exposure Assessment. Manchester, UK.
    2016 Thredgold, L., & Lewis, D. (2016). Innovative Wastewater Treatment Strategies for Remote Locations. Poster session presented at the meeting of RACI Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Division Symposium. Adelaide, Australia.
    2013 Thredgold, L., Khodakov, D., Ellis, A., & Lenehan, C. (2013). Novel on-chip capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection using injected metal electrodes. Poster session presented at the meeting of The Great Scientific Exchange (SCIEX2013). Milwaukee, USA.
Date Project Investigators Collaborators Funding Body Amount
2021 - 2022 Development of a measurement method to determine the TLV-Surface Limit concentration of o-phthalaldehyde Sharyn Gaskin, Tara Pukala, Leigh Thredgold Safework SA Worksafe BC $78,318
2020 - 2021 Improving exposure science and dust control for engineered stone workers Sharyn Gaskin, Leigh Thredgold, Richard Gun AO Safework Australia, Safework SA, Safework NSW iCare Dust Diseases Care (Cat 1) $224,872
2020 - 2021 Understanding the role of organic resin and metal ions in engineered stone silicosis Dino Pisaniello, Sharyn Gaskin, Richard Gun AO, Dusan Losic, Leigh Thredgold   Mining and Quarrying Occupational Health and
Safety Committee (MAQOHSC)		 $78,000
2019 - 2021 Risk-based decision-making for skin decontamination for CBR incidents – phase 4.

Sharyn Gaskin, Leigh Thredgold

 UoA, Qld Fire & Emergency Service, DSTG Australian Government (Defence) MOU with the US Government concerning Combating Terrorism Research and Development Grant $714,400

2019 - 2020

 Increasing the understanding of skin absorption of chemicals in hot environments: establishing an evidence base for existing firefighting work practices Leigh Thredgold (CI-A), Sharyn Gaskin, Scott Hanson-Easey, Dino Pisaniello UoA, SAMFS, CFS, SES & QFES Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Tactical Research Fund $52,187

 

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  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    2021 - ongoing Member School of Public Health Research Committee University of Adelaide Australia
    2019 - ongoing Member 2020 AIOH Conference Organising Committee Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Australia
    2014 - 2014 Treasurer Research and Development Topics Conference Royal Australian Chemical Institute Australia

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    2019 - ongoing Member Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists Australia
    2016 - ongoing Member Royal Australian Chemical Institute Australia
  • Position: Research Fellow
  • Phone: 83134957
  • Email: leigh.thredgold@adelaide.edu.au
  • Campus: Thebarton
  • Building: Adelaide Exposure Science and Health
  • Org Unit: Public Health
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