Tham Hoang, Ph.D.

Tham Hoang, Ph.D.

  • Associate Professor
  • School of Fisheries, Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences
tch0047@auburn.edu
Swingle Hall

Tham Hoang graduated with an MS and PhD degrees in environmental toxicology from Clemson University and has studied the impacts of contaminants on the natural ecosystem since graduation. He is a long time member of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and is serving as a Senior and Associate Editor of the Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management Journal, Human and Ecological Risk Assessment Journal, Earth: Environmental Sustainability, and on the Editorial Board of a few other journals. His research focuses on the influence of physical and chemical characteristics of water and sediment on toxicity of contaminants to aquatic organisms. The contaminants he studied include a wide range of anthropogenic chemicals and contaminants of emerging concern, such as microplastics and PFAS. Results of his research help us understand the mechanisms of toxicity and have implications for the development of environmental quality criteria and risk assessment to support environmental management. In addition to research, he is also interested in organizing conferences and training workshops in Southeast Asian countries to gather scientists with various expertise to share experience and discuss collaborations. Over the past 20 years, he has chaired and organized a series of five International Conference on Environmental Pollution, Restoration, and Management (ICEPORM) and numerous workshops in Vietnam. The conferences attracted hundreds of scientists from more than 50 countries around the world and provided opportunities for them to develop collaborations on research and education. Doing environmental toxicology research to support the common goal of understanding and reducing pollution impacts on the natural ecosystem and maintaining a healthy living environment for humans makes his life more enjoyable.Â


Education

  • Ph.D.Clemson University

Research

Area of interest:

Environmental impacts of contaminants on the natural ecosystem with a focus on heavy metals, agrochemicals, and emerging contaminants including microplastics and PFAS; Ecological risk assessments to support environmental management

Lab group:




Postdoctoral Associate:

Andrew Barrick


Naima Hamid



Graduate students:

Safeerul Islam Hashmi (PhD)


Md. Sayem Ahmed (PhD)



Sean Parham (MS)


Ellison Nabi (MS)


John Ikyoive (MS)



Pabasari Mallikarachchi (MS)


Undergraduate students:


Ali Boardwine (student employee of the year, 2025)



Celia Slaughter



Tyler Wojichowski



Stephen Duke



Abigail Kunz


Sophie Kyrik

Caroline Kealler


Student presentation awards:

  • Safeerul Islam Hashmi, 2nd place, poster, SE SETAC Conference 2024
  • Ali Boardwine, 1st place, poster, SE SETAC Conference 2024
  • Ellison Nabi, 2nd place, oral presentation, SE SETAC Conference 2025
  • Sean Parham, 1st place, oral presentation, SE SETAC Conference 2025
  • Safeerul Islam Hashmi, Presidential Graduate Research Fellowship, 2025
  • Ellison Nabi, 1st place, oral presentation, SE SETAC Conference 2026
  • Sean Parham, 2nd place, oral presentation, SE SETAC Conference 2026
  • Ellison Nabi, 1st place, oral presentation, 5th ICEPORM Conference 2026


Recent publications:

  • Alisha M. Janiga-MacNelly, Andrew Barrick, Tham C. Hoang, Ramon Lavado. 2026. From consumer plastics to aquatic toxicants: oxidative and endocrine effects of microplastics on fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) larvae. Environ. Toxicol. https://doi.org/10.1002/tox.70160.
  • Nhung H.A. Nguyen, Anna Bohmova, Jana Novotna, Jakub Wiener, Jakub Riha, Tham C. Hoang, Alena Sevcu. 2026. Antibiotic resistance genes are more abundant in microplastic textile biofilms than natural cotton biofilms in freshwater. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.00719-26.
  • Md. Sayem Ahmed, A Barrick, LA Roy, AM Kelly, BH Beck, Tham C. Hoang.2026. Relative sensitivity of cyanobacteria and green algae to copper exposure: implications for increased treatment efficiency of harmful algal blooms and reducing environmental copper load. Int. Environ, Assess. Manag. https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjag082.
  • Andrew Barrick, R Watanabe, BH Beck, Tham C. Hoang. 2026. Innovative method to measure response of cyanobacteria to copper exposure: implications for harmful algal research and management. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 45(6):1653-1664. https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgag074.
  • Andrew Barrick, Sayem Ahmed, Francisca Ordonez Hinz, Patrick C. Wilson, Benjamin H. Beck, Tham C. Hoang. 2026. Sensitivity of Cyanobacteria to Herbicides Commonly Used in Aquatic Systems: Implications for Controlling Harmful Algal Blooms. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 45(6):1681-1692. https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgag090.
  • Safeerul Islam Hashmi, Andrew Barrick, James Stoeckel, Dengjun Wang, Bernardo Chaves-Cordoba, Nhung H.A. Nguyen, Alena Sevcu, Jana Novotna, Tham C. Hoang. 2026. Effects of chronic exposure to environmentally realistic microplastics on Daphnia magna: importance of particle size and morphology and implications for risk assessments. Sci. Tot. Environ.,1026:181673. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2026.181673.
  • Kayla Boyd, Vanisree Mulabagal, Joel Hayworth, Tham C. Hoang, James Stoeckel. 2025. PFAS bioaccumulation, depuration, and associated energetic costs in the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica). Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 45:959-969. https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf290.
  • Matthew Long-Hei Cheng, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Matthew R Monteverde, Sae Yun Kwon and Tham C. Hoang. 2025.Trophic transfer of trace elements within and between aquatic and terrestrial food webs in a forested watershed. Front. Environ. Sci., 13:1657891. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1657891.
  • Safeerul I. Hashmi I. Andrew Barrick. Tham C. Hoang. 2025. Discovery of microplastics in the Alabama River: distributions, transport and loads, sources, and relative comparison with world rivers. J. Hazard Mater., 495, 138813. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138813.
  • Ashley V Hennessey, Michael B McDonald, Peyton P Johnson, Matthew F Gladfelter, Kate L Merrill, Suzanne E Tenison, Sathya S Ganegoda, Tham C. Hoang, H Allen Torbert, Benjamin H Beck, Alan E Wilson. 2025. Lowering pH enhances copper toxicity: A novel strategy for controlling harmful algal blooms and off-flavors. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 302, 118549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118549.
  • Michael B McDonald, Ashley V Hennessey, Peyton P Johnson, Matthew F Gladfelter, Kate L Merrill, Suzanne E Tenison, Sathya S Ganegoda, Tham C. Hoang, H Allen Torbert, Benjamin H Beck, Alan E Wilson. 2025. Repeated low-dose copper algaecide treatments promote beneficial phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. J. Environ. Manag.,. 394, 127502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127502.
  • Michael B McDonald, Ashley V Hennessey, Peyton P Johnson, Matthew F Gladfelter, Kate L Merrill, Suzanne E Tenison, Sathya S Ganegoda, Tham C. Hoang, H Allen Torbert, Benjamin H Beck, Alan E Wilson. 2025. Reevaluating copper algaecide dosing to manage water quality: A multiple linear regression approach. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 44: 2957–2966, https://doi.org/10.1093/etojnl/vgaf175.
  • Andrew Barrick, Martin B Berg, Tham C. Hoang. 2025. Alteration to organismal behavior due to microplastic exposure. Environ. Res., 277, 121622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.121622.
  • Tham C. Hoang. 2025. Management of environmental pollutants: efforts have been made but the past lessons were not fully learned. Int. Environ. Assess. Manag., https://doi.org/10.1093/inteam/vjae041.
  • Erik R. Christensen, Tham C. Hoang, An Li. 2025. Metals in Great Lakes sediments determined by factor analysis. Sci. Total Environ., 966:178124 178724. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178724.
  • Andrew Barrick, Alison J. Boardwine, Nhung H.A. Nguyen, Alena Sevcu, Jana Novotna, and Tham C. Hoang. 2025. Acute toxicity of natural and synthetic clothing fibers towards Daphnia magna: influence of fiber type and morphology. Sci. Total Environ., 178751. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178751.
  • Ashley V. Hennessey, Michael B. McDonald, Peyton P. Johnson, Matthew F. Gladfelter, Kate L. Merrill, Suzanne E. Tenison, Sathya S. Ganegoda, Tham C. Hoang, H. Allen Torbert, Benjamin H. Beck, Alan E. Wilson. 2025. Environ. Pollut., 125691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125691.
  • An Li, Ali Boardwine, Tham C. Hoang. 2025. Metals in sediment of the lower Great Lakes and region-wide discoveries. J. Hazard Mater., 487:137099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137099.
  • Andrew Barrick, Tham C. Hoang. 2024. Environmental effects of plastic pollution and sustainability: where are we now? J. Intergrat. Glob., STEM 1:0006. https://doi.org/10.1515/jigs-2024-0006.
  • Alisha Janiga-MacNelly, Tham C. Hoang, Ramon Lavado. 2024. Comparative Toxicity of Different Micro- and Nanoplastics Obtained from Human Consumer Products on Human Cell-Based Models. Food Chem. Toxicol.,115194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2024.115194.
  • An Li, Ali Boardwine, Tham C. Hoang. 2024. Metals in sediment of the upper Great Lakes: Spatial distribution, temporal trends, anthropogenic enrichment, and risk assessments. Sci. Total Environ., 951: 175568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175568.
  • Andrew Barrick, Sean Parham, Shannon Brewer, Paul Johnson, Tham C. Hoang. 2024. Sensitivity of Alabama Freshwater Gastropod Species to Nickel Exposure: Sensitivity of freshwater gastropods to nickel. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 43(12): 2578-2588. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5985.
  • Andrew Barrick, Ali Boardwine, Tham C. Hoang. 2024. Accumulation and excretion of environmental realistic microplastics by Daphnia manga. Sci. Total Environ. 704:175384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175384.
  • Peijia Ku, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Habibullah Uzun, Huan Chen, Randy A. Dahlgren, Tham C. Hoang, Hon-Ming Lam, Tanju Karanfil, Alex T. Chow. 2024. Dominance of particulate mercury in stream transport and rapid watershed recovery from preceding summer fires in northern California, USA. Environ. Sci. Technol., 58(50):22159-22169. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.4c09364.
  • Tham C. Hoang. 2024: Nanoplastics and microplastics can pose long-term risks to the natural ecosystem and human health, as do other synthetic pollutants: a need to increase knowledge and public awareness. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess., https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2024.2310816.
  • Na Phung, Lien Le, Ha Nguyen, Loc Tran, Hoang-Anh Nguyen, Duc Pham, Viet Tran, Manh Nguyen, Tham C. Hoang, Son Trinh. 2024. Effects of chronic exposure to microplastics and microplastics associated with polychlorinated biphenyl 153 on Daphnia magna. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess., https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2023.2268217.
  • Son Tran, Hoa Nguyen, Tham C. Hoang. 2024. Ingestion and accumulation of microplastics in small marine fish and potential human exposure: case study of Binh Dinh, Vietnam. Hum. Ecol. Risk Assess., https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2023.2268208.
  • Han-Han Li, Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui, Peijia Ku, Huan Chen, Ziyu Yin, Randy A. Dahlgren, Sanjai J. Parikh, Jianjun Wei, Tham C. Hoang, Alex T. Chow, Zhang Cheng, and Xue-Mei Zhu. 2022. Impacts of Forest Fire Ash on Aquatic Mercury Cycling. Environ. Sci. Technol., 56 11835-11844. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c01591.
  • Hanna Karic, Marienne A. Colvin, Gunther Rosen, Tham C. Hoang. 2022. Characterization of Metal Pulsed Exposure to Aquatic Organisms with Post-Exposure Monitoring: Implications for Stormwater Exposure Assessment. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., 41(10) 2488-2499. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5443.
  • Tham C. Hoang. 2022. Plastic pollution: Where are we regarding research and risk assessment in support of management and regulation? Int. Environ. Assess. Manag., 18(4) 851-852. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4627.
  • Tham C. Hoang, Stephen Mitten. 2022. Microplastic accumulation in the gastrointestinal tracts nestling and adult migratory birds. Sci.Total Environ., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155827.
  • Robert C Santore, Kelly Croteau, Adam C Ryan, Christian Schlekat, Ellie Middleton, Emily Garman, Tham C. Hoang. 2021. A Review of Water Quality Factors that Affect Nickel Bioavailability to Aquatic Organisms: Refinement of the Biotic Ligand Model for Nickel in Acute and Chronic Exposures. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5109.
  • Tham C. Hoang, John M. Brausch, Mary F. Cichra, Edward J. Phlips, Eric Van Genderen, Gary M. Rand. 2021. Effects of Zinc in an Outdoor Freshwater Microcosm System. Environ. Toxicol. Chem., https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5050.
  • Kenneth M.Y. Leung, Katie W. Y. Yeung, Jing You, Kyungho Choi, Xiaowei Zhang, Ross Smith, Guang‐Jie Zhou, Mana M. N. Yung, Carlos Arias‐Barreiro, Youn‐Joo An, S. Rebekah Burket, Robert Dwyer, Nathalie Goodkin, Yii Siang Hii, Tham C. Hoang, Chris Humphrey, Chuleemas Boonthai Iwai, Seung‐Woo Jeong, Guillaume Juhel, Ali Karami, Katerina Kyriazi‐Huber, Kuan‐Chun Lee, Bin‐Le Lin, Ben Lu, Patrick Martin, Mae Grace Nillos, Katharina Oginawati I.V.N. Rathnayake, Yenny Risjani, Mohammad Shoeb, Chin Hon Tan, Maria Claret Tsuchiya, Gerald T. Ankley, Alistair B. A. Boxall, Murray A. Rudd, Bryan W. Brooks. 2020. Towards sustainable environmental quality: Priority research questions for Asia, Environ.Toxicol. Chem., https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4788.
  • Tham C. Hoang, Mariana Filex-Kim. 2020. Microplastic consumption and excretion by Pimephales promelas: influence of particle size and fish body shape. Sci. Total Environ., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135433.

Extension Experience

Public education to increase knowledge in pollution impacts on the environment and the need of environmental protection to support sustainability.

Laboratory Facility





Extra Content #3 Title