The Global Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Andrew's work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

About Andrew

• I am an Associate Professor in marine and environmental biogeochemistry at the University of Plymouth. My teaching focuses on marine, terrestrial and atmospheric processes and the impacts of pollutants on these processes.
• My research is mainly related to marine pollution by plastics, pharmaceuticals, antifouling paints, rare earth elements and other emerging contaminants, human health impacts arising from exposure to chemicals and microplastics, waste management and AI, contamination of consumer plastics through recycling of electronic waste, and the analysis of low-density materials through X-ray fluorescence. I have also recently seen the many benefits of combining conventional scientific research with citizen science.
• I am currently collaborating with colleagues from World Health Organization, Nature Seychelles, The Science Museum, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, CEA Aix Marseilles University, University of Exeter Medical School, Birmingham University, University of Portsmouth, The Cornish Plastic Pollution Coalition, Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences, University of Shiraz, Geosciences Environnement Toulouse,  Moldovan National Public Health Agency, The University of Geneva, Lancaster University, University of Toronto, University of Zanjan, Kerman University, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Klaipeda University, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Wageningen University, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Changsha Human Agricultural University, CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and California Institute of Arts.
• I am on various advisory boards and committees, including Lead Safe World, the International Scientific Committee for Estuarine Biogeochemistry and Food Packaging Forum.
• Research outputs are in numerous scientific publications and reports.
• Research is also featured in various media outlets, online videos, blogs and forums; Scientific American, New Scientist, National Geographic; several Wikipedia and Wiktionary pages; high school text books.
• Reader in Environmental Sciences (Biogeochemistry).
• Lecturer on the Environmental Science, Environmental Management & Sustainability, Geography, Ocean Science, Marine Biology, Foundation Year, Applied Marine Science and Environmental Consultancy programmes.
• Stage Two tutor for Environmental Science and Environmental Management.
• Module leader for ENVS2005/ENVS3001/ENVS3003.

Supervised Research Degrees

• F. Jahedi; Microplastics in human physiological fluids. PhD (current)
• A. Lawen; Microplastics in Seychelles marine environment. PhD (current)
• N. Mimpress; Paint particles as microplastics. ResM (current)
• F. Read; Litter on the seabed. ResM (current)
• C. Crowther; Analytical, taxicogenomics and modelling approaches to determine the impacts of radionuclides and metals. PhD (2021)
• D. Mohammed; Toxicity of metals and surfactants to freshwater macroalgae. MPhil (2017).
• C. Levy; Study of modified calcium carbonates as active-agent slow-release and environmental clean-up agents. PhD (2016)
• N. Vyas; Effectiveness of a closed system device in reducing occupational exposure and environmental concentrations of anticancer drugs. PhD (2014).
• L. Holmes; Interactions of trace metals with plastics in the marine environment. PhD (2013) 
• L. Dallas; Assessing the impacts of chronic exposure of contaminants on marine organisms. PhD (2013) 
• C. M. Gribble; Surface adsorption and pore-level properties of mineral and related systems of relevance to the recycling of paper. PhD (2010) 
• L. Shams; Uptake of platinum group elements by the marine microalga, Chlorella stigmatophora. PhD (2010) 
• S. Batchelli: Multi-method characterisation of terrestrial and marine colloids in coastal waters. PhD (2010) 
• S.J. Watts; Recovery of the Mersey Estuary from metal contamination. PhD (2004) 
• E. Mawji; Speciation and hydrophobicity of trace metals, MRes (2003) 
• Y. Dogra; Biological effects of tritium, MRes (2003) 
• T.L. Jones-Hughes; Surfactants in rivers and estuaries, PhD (2003) 
• M.S. Williams; Radionuclides in estuaries, PhD (2001) 
• S.M. Le Roux; Speciation and reactivity of metals in estuaries, PhD (2000) 
• A. Punt; Estuarine modelling of trace metals, PhD (2000) 
• M. Martino; Reactivity of nickel in estuaries, PhD (2000) 
• M.C. Rawling; Partitioning of organics micropollutants in estuaries, PhD (1999) 
• T.J. Mathews; Void structure, colloid and tracer transport properties of stratified porous media, PhD(1998) 
• T.K. Sands; Metal Reactivity in the North Sea, PhD (1997) 
• Supervisor for research projects of 150 MSc Students

Teaching

• Marine and environmental biogeochemistry 
• Marine pollution 
• Environmental radioactivity 
• Air quality modelling 
• Environmental impact and risk assessment
• Applied statistics and data management 
• Meteorology 
• Persistent organic pollutants
• Plastic recycling and pollution
• Waste management and WEEE

Contact Andrew

( B511, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
+44 1752 584570
A.Turner@plymouth.ac.uk