We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Public awareness and perceptions of ocean plastic pollution and support for solutions in the United States
Summary
A 2021 nationally representative survey of 1,960 U.S. adults measured knowledge, perceptions, and concerns about ocean plastic and microplastic pollution, comparing responses between the general public and highly engaged ocean conservation advocates. The survey found that while ocean plastic pollution ranked among the top concerns, knowledge about microplastics specifically was lower than concern about visible plastic debris.
In 2021, we conducted a nationally-representative survey of United States (U.S.) adults (n=1,960) to gather insights on the knowledge, perceptions, and concerns about threats to the ocean, with a specific focus on plastics and microplastic pollution. Responses from the U.S. adult survey group were compared to a group of highly-engaged, Ocean Conservancy members who are very attuned to ocean issues (n=882). Ocean Conservancy is a U.S.-based nonprofit environmental advocacy group working to protect the ocean from today's greatest challenges. Plastic pollution was the primary ocean concern identified by both U.S. adults and Ocean Conservancy members, surpassing eight other threat categories including oil spills, chemical and nutrient pollution, and climate change. Broad concern was reported for both study groups about the impacts of ocean plastics on marine wildlife, with human health and coastal community impact concerns being less prominent. About half of U.S. adults and 90 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/544250/document
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Public awareness and perceptions of ocean plastic pollution and support for solutions in the United States
A 2021 nationally representative survey of 1,960 U.S. adults assessed public knowledge, perceptions, and concerns about ocean plastic pollution, comparing responses between the general public and engaged Ocean Conservancy advocates. The survey revealed that while concern about plastic pollution is high across groups, knowledge specifically about microplastics was lower than awareness of visible marine debris.
Public awareness and perceptions of ocean plastic pollution and support for solutions in the United States
A nationally representative survey of nearly 2,000 U.S. adults found that plastic pollution was their top ocean concern, ahead of oil spills and climate change. About half of Americans had heard of microplastics, and most supported prevention measures and believed industry should take the lead in addressing the problem. However, concern focused more on impacts to marine wildlife than on direct human health risks, suggesting public awareness of the personal health dimension is still growing.
From Ocean to Table: How Public Awareness Shapes the Fight Against Microplastic Pollution
This literature review synthesized global studies on public awareness of microplastic pollution, finding that while scientific knowledge has expanded significantly, public understanding and behavioral change remain limited. The study identified effective communication strategies and policy approaches to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and public action.
Making sense of microplastics? Public understandings of plastic pollution
Researchers conducted focus groups to explore public understanding of microplastics and plastic pollution. Most participants were unaware of microplastics, and few connected their personal plastic use to ocean pollution, instead associating the issue with distant images like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The study suggests that the invisible scale of microplastics, limited scientific understanding, and deeply embedded cultural habits around plastic use present significant barriers to behavior change.
From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution
This review examined why public awareness of plastic pollution has not translated into meaningful behavioral change. The study found that most people focus on visible plastic waste like bottles and bags but have limited understanding of sources like microplastics from clothing and tires, with key barriers to action including convenience, cost, social norms, and distrust in recycling systems.