
Dr Leigh Thredgold
Research Fellow (B) (with PhD)
School of Public Health
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
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
Workplace skin health: Development of an online module to increase awareness amongst workers in high risk industries
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 available to high risk industries with the aim of reducing the incidence of occupational skin disease in these workplaces.
Project available for: Honours, Masters.
Research Project 2
Do ingredients matter? The effect of pesticide co-ingredients on the permeation of active compounds through skin
Project Description:
The Adelaide Exposure Science and Health Laboratory currently runs a range of research projects around the science of skin exposure to various toxic chemicals. One such program investigates 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-ingredients. Some classes of these additional ingredients (surfactants, organic solvents) are known to permeate human skin and, in some circumstances act as penetration enhancers, therefore it is important to explore the potential effects these co-solvents may have on skin permeation.
This will be a laboratory based project that will utilise a model pesticide and a number of different co-solvents and/or commercial formulated products 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
Research Project 3
Health forensics: Development of an analytical method for the analysis of nicotine metabolites in urine
Project Description:
This research project is part of a larger program of work within the School of Public health seeking to understand whether incentives and carbon monoxide monitoring help pregnant women quit smoking. As part of this work analysis of urinary metabolites, cotinine and anabasine, will be analysed to assist in determining the smoking status of individuals. This project will perform a literature review on methods used previously for the analysis of nicotine metabolites and develop an analytical method capable of analysing these metabolites at the concentrations required. This lab based project will involve the optimisation of both metabolite extraction, using a suitable technique, and subsequent analysis using appropriate analytical instrumentation.
Project available for: Honours / 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 - ongoing 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
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Journals
Year Citation 2022 Tefera, Y. M., Gaskin, S., Thredgold, L., & Pisaniello, D. (2022). The role of formulation co-ingredients in skin and glove barrier protection against organophosphate insecticides. Pest Management Science, 78(1), 177-183.
2022 Ramkissoon, C., Gaskin, S., Thredgold, L., Hall, T., Rowett, S., & Gun, R. (2022). Characterisation of dust emissions from machined engineered stones to understand the hazard for accelerated silicosis. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 4351.
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.
Scopus2 WoS1 Europe PMC12021 Ween, M. P., Moshensky, A., Thredgold, L. L., Bastian, N. A., Hamon, R., Badiei, A., . . . Hodge, S. J. (2021). E-cigarettes and health risks: more to the flavour than just the name. American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, 320(4), L600-L614.
Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC42020 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.
Scopus20 WoS19 Europe PMC122020 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.
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.
Scopus4 WoS32019 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.
Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC12019 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.
Scopus1 WoS1 Europe PMC12018 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.
Scopus1 WoS12018 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.
WoS12015 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.
Scopus11 WoS92013 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.
Scopus22 WoS20 Europe PMC82012 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.
Scopus6 WoS6 Europe PMC4— Pisaniello, D. (n.d.). Development of a new mineral dust monitoring method incorporating genotoxicity assessment: an aid in cancer prevention.
— Pisaniello, D. (n.d.). Development of a new mineral dust monitoring method incorporating genotoxicity assessment: field measurements.
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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.
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.
Scopus2 WoS12011 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 |
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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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Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2018 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Analysing Work Environment and Chemical Risk Factors for Occupational Exposure to Pesticides in Horticulture Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Yonatal Mesfin Tefera
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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
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