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Public awareness and behaviors regarding plastic consumption, recycling, and microplastics among residents of Tehran, Iran
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A survey of 300 Tehran residents looked at plastic use, recycling habits, and awareness of microplastics. Most people worried about plastics harming animals, but far fewer linked plastics to health problems like cancer or hormone issues, and most disposed of used masks with regular household trash rather than recycling or medical waste.
Abstract This cross-sectional study examined plastic consumption, recycling and littering behaviors, perceived plastic-related risks, and microplastic awareness among 300 Tehran residents aged 15–60 years. Participants were recruited through non-probability convenience and self-selection sampling using an online questionnaire distributed through Instagram, Telegram, and personal networks. Data were analyzed using Pearson’s χ², Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis H, Dunn–Bonferroni post hoc, and Spearman correlation tests, as appropriate. Women reported greater intention to participate in waste segregation (χ²(4) = 12.733, p = .013, Cramer’s V = 0.206) and more positive feelings about environmental participation (χ²(4) = 14.554, p = .006, Cramer’s V = 0.220) than men. Microplastic awareness showed a weak positive association with educational attainment (Spearman’s ρ = 0.186, p = .001), and social networks were the preferred source of environmental information about plastic pollution and recycling (69.7%). A marked difference in perceived risks was observed: 53.7% selected the highest response category for plastic-related animal mortality, whereas only 3.4%, 11.6%, and 11.7% selected this category for cancer, hormonal disorders, and respiratory problems, respectively. Residential-area category was unrelated to most outcomes. However, plastic-bag consumption differed across housing-price categories (H(2) = 6.469, p = .039, ε² = 0.015), with higher consumption in middle- than upper-housing-price areas (adjusted p = .037). Among 296 disposable-mask users, 60.8% discarded masks with household waste, 29.1% with recyclable waste, and 10.1% through medical-waste channels; disposal methods did not differ significantly by gender, education, or residential-area category. These findings indicate uneven perceptions of ecological and potential human-health implications of plastics and support clear, evidence-based public communication about microplastics and appropriate waste disposal. Because the study relied on online convenience sampling and self-reported responses, the findings should not be generalized to all Tehran residents without caution.
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Additional file 1 of Public awareness and behaviors regarding plastic consumption, recycling, and microplastics among residents of Tehran, Iran
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This record is a supplementary file linked to a study on public awareness and behaviors regarding plastic use, recycling, and microplastics among residents of Tehran, Iran. No additional findings are provided in this document beyond supporting the main research paper.
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