Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Public perceptions of marine environmental issues: A case study of coastal recreational users in Italy

Researchers surveyed 202 coastal recreational users along Italy's Adriatic coast about their perceptions of marine environmental issues, finding that awareness of marine litter, pollution, and overfishing was high, and that observed coastal changes and pro-environmental behaviors were primarily shaped by demographic factors such as gender and water use frequency.

2022 Journal of Coastal Conservation 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Public Perceptions of Marine Plastic Litter: A Comparative Study Across European Countries and Seas

This study surveyed public perceptions of marine plastic litter across eight European countries bordering the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean, finding high awareness of the problem but identifying barriers to behavioral change that vary by country and sea region.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 24 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 293 citations
Article Tier 2

Multi-Criteria Relationship Analysis of Knowledge, Perception, and Attitude of Stakeholders for Engagement towards Maritime Pollution at Sea, Beach, and Coastal Environments

Researchers used multi-criteria analysis to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of stakeholders toward marine pollution governance, finding persistent gaps between awareness and action, and identifying barriers to mobilizing the level of engagement needed for effective protection of vulnerable coastal ecosystems.

2022 Sustainability 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine monitoring in Europe: is it adequate to address environmental threats and pressures?

A review of European coastal monitoring programs found significant gaps in detecting and tracking environmental threats, including microplastic pollution. The study calls for better integration of monitoring networks to provide the data needed for effective ocean management and pollution control.

2020 Ocean science 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, concerns and attitudes towards plastic pollution: An empirical study of public perceptions in Portugal

A survey of public knowledge, concerns, and attitudes toward plastic pollution found that awareness varied significantly across demographic groups, and that concern about plastic in different environmental compartments (air, water, soil) did not always translate into pro-recycling behaviors.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Persepsi Masyarakat Terkait Isu Sampah Pada Ekosistem Dan Perairan Di Kecamatan Muara Gembong

This Indonesian study surveyed community perceptions about waste pollution in coastal and aquatic ecosystems in Makassar, finding mixed levels of awareness and concern. Public understanding of how plastic waste becomes microplastic pollution is an important factor in behavior change and local environmental action.

2021 Jurnal Berdaya 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Public knowledge of microplastics for pro-environmental behavior

Researchers analyzed public knowledge of microplastics and its relationship to pro-environmental behavior, finding that because microplastics are invisible to the naked eye, public perception depends entirely on external information sources rather than direct experience, with implications for environmental communication strategies.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Consumers' Awareness of the Impact of UV Filters on Marine Ecosystems

Not relevant to microplastics — this study surveys Polish consumers about their awareness of UV filter chemicals from sunscreens as a threat to marine ecosystems, finding generally low awareness of this specific issue.

2023 TransNav the International Journal on Marine Navigation and Safety of Sea Transportation 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Public perception of microplastics pollution in Switzerland: Psychological distance, concern, and willingness to engage in mitigation activities

Researchers surveyed over 900 people in Switzerland to understand how the public perceives microplastic pollution and their willingness to take action. The study found that people perceive microplastics as a relatively close threat on most psychological dimensions, and that concern about the issue, particularly concern for nature, is a stronger predictor of willingness to engage in mitigation activities than psychological distance alone.

2026
Article Tier 2

Public Awareness Of Plastic Pollution And Perceived Risks To Human Health.

This study aims to assess public awareness of plastic pollution and its health impacts by surveying urban and semi-urban communities about their plastic use habits and self-reported health outcomes. Researchers plan to compare families using plastic food-contact materials with those using non-plastic alternatives to identify gaps in awareness and potential health differences linked to everyday plastic exposure.

2026
Review Tier 2

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.

2026 International Journal of Science and Research Archive
Article Tier 2

Local and tourist perceptions of coastal marine habitats in Cap de Creus (NE Spain)

Researchers surveyed over 600 locals and tourists at a marine protected area in Spain and found both groups similarly valued the area's ecosystem services, ranked inland pollution and climate change as the top threats, and supported greater conservation efforts — suggesting public awareness could be a strong driver of marine protection policy.

2022 Regional Environmental Change 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the Levels of Awareness among European Citizens about the Direct and Indirect Impacts of Plastics on Human Health

Researchers surveyed European citizens across multiple countries about their awareness of direct and indirect health impacts of plastic pollution, finding that awareness of plastic's environmental harms was widespread but that knowledge of specific health risks — including those from microplastics and chemical additives — was much lower.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Public views on tourist beach environment from multinational countries and ensuing changes during global epidemic

Researchers polled 16 nations during COVID-19 lockdowns about marine beach pollution and found that 85% of respondents were most concerned about visible plastic waste and rising biomedical waste in coastal waters, providing baseline public perception data for post-pandemic environmental management strategies.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Risk perception of differet environmental concerns

This study investigated how individuals perceive and prioritize different environmental risks including microplastics, air pollution, and climate change, using survey data to compare risk perception across demographic groups. The findings reveal that awareness of microplastic risks lags behind other environmental concerns.

2024 Open Science Framework
Article Tier 2

What does the public think about microplastics? Insights from an empirical analysis of mental models elicited through free associations

Researchers surveyed 2,720 Norwegians and found that the public primarily associates microplastics with ocean pollution and harm to animals, while awareness of microplastic sources and potential solutions remains low, with responses varying by age, gender, education, and personal values.

2022 Frontiers in Psychology 31 citations
Review Tier 2

From Awareness to Action: A Critical Review of Public Knowledge and Behavioral Gaps in Addressing Plastic Pollution

This review examined why high public awareness of plastic pollution has not led to meaningful action. Researchers found that people tend to focus on visible pollution like bottles and bags while overlooking less obvious sources such as microplastics from clothing and tires. The study concludes that bridging the awareness-to-action gap requires strategies that address specific behavioral barriers including convenience, cost, and distrust in recycling systems.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of the environmental perception of the users over solid residues on the beach of Tamandaré/Brazil

This Brazilian study surveyed beach users at Tamandaré beach about their awareness of solid waste pollution and waste disposal behaviors. Most users acknowledged the environmental problem of beach litter, but disposal habits did not always match awareness levels. Understanding public environmental perception is important for designing effective campaigns to reduce beach plastic pollution and microplastic generation.

2021 Research Society and Development 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Conceptions of university students on microplastics in Germany

Researchers surveyed German university students to capture their conceptions and misconceptions about microplastics, finding significant gaps between scientific knowledge and public understanding. The findings provide a basis for improving science communication and educational strategies around microplastic pollution.

2021 PLoS ONE 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk Perception of Plastic Pollution: Importance of Stakeholder Involvement and Citizen Science

Researchers examine how people perceive the risk of plastic pollution and find that eight key factors — including visibility, familiarity, and severity — shape public and policy responses. Greater involvement of citizens and stakeholders in science could improve risk understanding and lead to more effective regulations.

2017 ˜The œhandbook of environmental chemistry 59 citations
Article Tier 2

A Synthesis of Marine Monitoring Methods With the Potential to Enhance the Status Assessment of the Baltic Sea

This review synthesized monitoring methods applicable to the Baltic Sea to improve assessment of ecosystem health, covering chemical, biological, and emerging pollutant indicators including microplastics. Better and more coordinated monitoring is essential for tracking the effectiveness of conservation measures across this heavily polluted regional sea.

2020 Frontiers in Marine Science 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Is the public really concerned about microplastics? The importance of measuring everyday relevance and behavioral intentions as well as stated concern

Researchers surveyed over 2,200 citizens in Germany and Italy to examine whether public concern about microplastics translates into everyday relevance and behavioral change. While stated concern was high in both countries, most people reported thinking or talking about microplastics only rarely, though they still expressed willingness to take action to reduce exposure. The study found that both stated concern and everyday relevance mediated the link between knowledge about microplastics and intentions to change behavior.

2026 Journal of Environmental Psychology
Article Tier 2

Public Awareness, Knowledge, Attitude and Perception on Microplastics Pollution Around Lagos Lagoon

Researchers surveyed public awareness, knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding microplastic pollution around Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria, finding significant gaps in understanding among residents, students, and fishermen about microplastic health and ecological risks.

2022 Ecological Safety and Balanced Use of Resources 36 citations