Royal Society of Tasmania: Carmel Towns and Anyame Bawa Sadique

The Royal Society of Tasmania Northern Branch presents a public lecture by Carmel Towns and Anyame Bawa Sadique: How present is microplastic in Tasmania waters, soils and food, and what can we do about it?

The presentation outlines microplastics as a growing concern stemming from plastic use. It highlights their presence in the food chain, water and soil, and their enduring environmental impact as well as uncertainties regarding toxicity to humans. Recommendations focus on research and mitigation to address this emerging contaminant effectively.

Carmel Towns is the holder of the Dr Joan Woodberry postgraduate fellowship in Engineering at the University of Tasmania. She has worked as an environmental consultant for 15 years, predominantly in contaminated land assessment. Prior to that, she worked in local government for 14 years in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Her current research is in the areas of microplastics and pathways into the food chain.

Anyame Bawa Sadique has experience in stormwater, wastewater, and water treatment projects. His current research focuses on understanding microplastics contamination in Tasmanian soil via wastewater treatment plant biosolids application and developing mitigation technology.