Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Increasing knowledge and awareness of microplastic pollution in United States middle school students in a hybrid-classroom setting through science education

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution knowledge and awareness among middle school students in the United States, finding significant gaps in understanding of microplastic sources, pathways, and human health implications. The study highlights an educational opportunity and suggests targeted curriculum integration could improve scientific literacy around plastic pollution in younger generations.

2024 Journal of Geoscience Education 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Level of Awareness and Attitudes towards Plastic Contamination by Students of an Italian University

A survey of 220 Italian university students found significant gaps in awareness about micro- and nanoplastic contamination, with many not connecting everyday behaviors to plastic pollution despite science-oriented backgrounds.

2024 Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of environmental health education on microplastic pollution awareness

This study found that environmental health education significantly increased students' awareness of microplastic pollution. The results suggest that incorporating microplastic-related topics into school curricula could help young people understand the health and environmental risks of plastic pollution. Raising awareness early is an important step toward reducing microplastic exposure at the individual and community level.

2024 Public Health Nursing 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Science Literacy Profile of High School Students: Implications of PBL Didactic Design on the Topic of Microplastics

This education research paper is not primarily about microplastic risks; it studies Indonesian high school students' scientific literacy after a problem-based learning curriculum using microplastics as a teaching topic, assessing students' ability to explain phenomena, evaluate investigations, and interpret data within the PISA framework.

2026 Hydrogen Jurnal Kependidikan Kimia
Article Tier 2

A Preliminary Survey on Knowledge and Attitudes of University Students Regarding Microplastic Pollution and Its Impact on the Environment

A cross-sectional survey of university students found moderate knowledge and attitudes toward microplastic pollution, with no significant variation by age, gender, academic performance, or field of study. The findings suggest that structured education and media engagement are needed to improve microplastic literacy among young people who will shape future demand for plastic alternatives.

2023 Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Environment: Raising Awareness in Primary Education

This study developed and evaluated a microplastics education program for primary school children, finding that age-appropriate lessons about plastic pollution could meaningfully increase students' environmental awareness. The authors argue that early education is a key component of long-term plastic pollution reduction strategies.

2020 The American Biology Teacher 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics—How and What Do University Students Know about the Emerging Environmental Sustainability Issue?

A survey of nearly 400 university students in seven Czech universities found varied levels of knowledge about microplastics, with students largely relying on media rather than educational sources. The study highlights the need to integrate environmental literacy about emerging issues like microplastics into higher education.

2020 Sustainability 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Desenvolvimento da literacia química de alunos do ensino básico

A Portuguese citizen-science project engaged over 500 middle-school students in testing coastal water quality and learning about microplastic pollution through hands-on chemistry investigations. The program significantly improved students' attitudes toward chemistry and their conceptual understanding of water parameters and polymers compared to a control group, demonstrating that microplastic science can be an effective hook for building broader scientific literacy in young people.

2024 Educación Química 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Introduction of Hydrosphere Environmental Problems in Lower Secondary School Chemistry Lessons

This education study tested whether teaching secondary school students about water pollution through an online workshop improved their understanding of hydrosphere environmental problems. Students showed improved knowledge after the workshop, though they struggled with understanding the chemical structures of pollutants. While not directly about microplastics, the study addresses environmental education approaches that could help raise awareness about water contaminants including microplastics.

2025 Education Sciences 5 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Sustainable Development Issues in Chemistry Learning as Educational for Sustainable Development Implementation: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review synthesized research on integrating sustainable development issues into chemistry education. While not directly about microplastics, it identified microplastic pollution as one of the sustainability topics being incorporated into chemistry curricula to help students understand real-world environmental challenges.

2026 Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika dan Sains
Article Tier 2

Increasing Awareness on the Health Effects of Microplastics in Middle and High School Classrooms

Educators developed a presentation and hands-on laboratory experiment on microplastic health effects for middle and high school students, finding that structured lessons significantly improved student understanding of how micro- and nanoplastics interact with the human body. The curriculum addresses a documented gap in public education about plastic pollution biology.

2025 Physiology
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Students' Sustainability Awareness of the Environment

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it assesses the environmental sustainability awareness of high school students in West Java, Indonesia, using a descriptive quantitative educational research approach.

2023 Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan IPA 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Bridging the knowledge gap-microplastics in focus: assessing microplastic pollution awareness among medical students

Researchers surveyed 474 medical students at Pamukkale University to assess their awareness of microplastic pollution. The study found moderate to high awareness overall, with female students and those who had prior knowledge of microplastics scoring higher. Social media was the most common information source, and the study suggests targeted educational programs are needed to close gaps in understanding microplastic health impacts among future healthcare professionals.

2024 International Journal of Environmental Health Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing in-service chemistry teachers’ environmental literacy on hydrosphere pollution

Researchers assessed the environmental literacy of 66 in-service chemistry teachers regarding hydrosphere pollution topics including microplastics, agricultural runoff, ocean acidification, e-waste, and persistent organic pollutants. Teachers showed moderately low overall environmental literacy with limited knowledge and frequent misconceptions on newer issues like microplastics, despite demonstrating strong pro-environmental dispositions.

2025 Eurasia Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education
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

Level of Awareness of Microplastics Among Generation Z

A mixed-methods survey and interview study found that Generation Z has moderate awareness of microplastics as an environmental issue but limited understanding of specific sources, health effects, and personal mitigation behaviors.

2024 ShodhKosh Journal of Visual and Performing Arts
Article Tier 2

The Effect of Environmental Values on German Primary School Students’ Knowledge on Water Supply

This German education study examined how environmental values affect primary school children's knowledge about water supply and conservation. While focused on environmental education rather than microplastics directly, building environmental literacy in children is important for long-term behavior change to reduce plastic pollution.

2021 Water 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Students’ attitudes towards the environment and marine litter in the context of a coastal water quality educational citizen science project

Middle school students who participated in a citizen science project monitoring coastal water quality and microplastic pollution showed significantly more positive environmental attitudes afterward compared to a control group. The study suggests that hands-on engagement with real microplastic research can be an effective way to build environmental awareness in young people.

2023 Australian Journal of Environmental Education 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Chemistry inquiry conducted by secondary school students into material degradation in the context of sustainability

Despite its title referencing material degradation and sustainability, this paper describes a chemistry education project in which ninth-grade students investigated how materials break down in the environment using inquiry-based learning — not original microplastic research. It examines green chemistry principles at the secondary school level, and is not relevant to microplastic pollution or human health impacts.

2025 RSC Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

ОЦЕНКА ИНФОРМИРОВАННОСТИ СТУДЕНТОВ О ВРЕДЕ МИКРОПЛАСТИКА НА ОРГАНИЗМ ЧЕЛОВЕКА

A survey of medical university students in Kazakhstan found that despite daily exposure to microplastics through food delivery packaging and other sources, most students had limited awareness of the health risks. The study highlights a significant knowledge gap that could hinder personal and public health responses to microplastic exposure.

2023 Ġylym men densaulyķ saķtau.
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Outreach Program: A Systems-Thinking Approach To Teach High School Students about the Chemistry and Impacts of Plastics

An outreach program for high school students used a systems-thinking approach to teach the chemistry of plastics, microplastic pollution, and environmental impacts. Student participants showed improved understanding of how plastic production and disposal connect to ocean ecology and human health.

2019 Journal of Chemical Education 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Information and Material Support to Environmental Education in Slovakia in the Times of Crisis

Not relevant to microplastics — this Slovak educational research study surveys teachers' knowledge of environmental security topics and access to teaching materials, with no connection to microplastic science.

2023 Acta Educationis Generalis 1 citations
Article Tier 2

An Examination of Knowledge, Thoughts, and Attitudes Toward Microplastics in the Context of Science Teacher Education

This study looked at what science teachers know and think about microplastics - tiny plastic particles that can get into our food, water, and bodies. The research found gaps in teachers' understanding of microplastics, which matters because teachers play a key role in educating the next generation about these health and environmental concerns. Better teacher education about microplastics could help students make more informed choices about plastic use and understand potential health risks.

2026 Harvard Dataverse