Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Author comment: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R0/PR1

This author comment accompanies a review analyzing global public perceptions of plastic pollution, based on 39 peer-reviewed studies. The analysis finds that public discourse has focused heavily on marine and single-use plastic issues, which may limit the scope of international policy solutions.

2023
Article Tier 2

Review: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R0/PR3

A review of 39 studies on public perceptions of plastic pollution found that research has clustered around marine ecosystems, single-use plastics, and recycling barriers, while underexploring systemic production reduction and connections to climate change or broader biodiversity loss. The paper emphasizes that terminology choices — 'marine debris' vs. 'microplastics' vs. 'plastic pollution' — frame public understanding differently and should inform policy communications.

2023
Article Tier 2

Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate

This review analyzed 39 peer-reviewed studies on public perceptions of plastic pollution, finding that research discourse is narrowly focused on marine impacts and single-use plastics while largely ignoring broader plastic pollution contexts relevant to international treaty negotiations.

2023 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Review: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R1/PR7

A peer review of a study analyzing public perceptions of plastic pollution found that research mainly focuses on marine impacts and single-use plastics. The reviewer suggests future work should examine broader risk perceptions including toxic chemicals in plastics and links to climate change.

2023
Article Tier 2

Review: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R1/PR8

This peer review evaluates a study on public perceptions of plastic pollution in the context of global treaty negotiations. Scientific understanding of public attitudes helps policymakers craft more effective communication and regulatory approaches for reducing the plastic waste that becomes microplastics.

2023
Article Tier 2

Recommendation: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R0/PR4

This is a peer review recommendation for a study analyzing 39 published papers on public perceptions of plastic pollution, finding that research has focused mainly on marine ecosystems, single-use plastics, and microplastic risks while underexploring broader production reduction and climate-plastics links. The paper notes that framing choices in terminology shape public understanding and policy responses to the plastic pollution crisis.

2023
Article Tier 2

Decision: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R1/PR10

This peer review decision evaluates a study analyzing peer-reviewed literature on public perceptions of plastic pollution as international treaty negotiations unfold. Understanding how the public perceives plastic pollution is important for shaping effective policies to reduce the microplastic contamination that flows from mismanaged plastic waste.

2023
Article Tier 2

Recommendation: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R1/PR9

This peer review recommendation evaluates a study on public perceptions of plastic pollution ahead of international treaty negotiations. Understanding public attitudes toward plastic pollution is important for designing effective communication strategies and policies to reduce microplastic contamination.

2023
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Urban Science
Article Tier 2

Author comment: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R1/PR6

This author comment accompanies a study reviewing public perceptions of plastic pollution based on 39 peer-reviewed papers. The response affirms the value of social science perspectives in shaping plastic pollution policy and addressing the social meaning of plastics in everyday life.

2023
Article Tier 2

Decision: Global perceptions of plastic pollution: The contours and limits of debate — R0/PR5

This is the editorial decision record for a paper analyzing public perceptions of plastic pollution. The editor's decision document accompanies peer reviews of the paper and does not contain independent research findings.

2023
Review Tier 2

Author comment: Plastic Pulse of the Public: A review of survey-based research on how people use plastic — R0/PR1

This author comment reviews survey-based research on how people use, perceive, and understand plastic pollution, synthesizing evidence on public knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to plastics across different jurisdictions and demographic groups. The review highlights variation in public engagement and identifies gaps in understanding that limit effective communication and policy interventions around plastic pollution.

2022
Systematic Review Tier 1

Marine microplastic pollution & misinformation in the public sphere: a systematic review

This systematic review examines how scientific findings about marine microplastic pollution are communicated to the public, identifying gaps where misinformation can take hold. Accurate public understanding of microplastic risks matters because it drives consumer choices and policy decisions that affect human health protection.

2024 Discover Oceans 4 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 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
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)
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 behavior change. Researchers found that most people focus on visible plastic items like bottles and bags but have limited knowledge about microplastics from clothing or tires. Key barriers to action include convenience, cost, social norms, and distrust in recycling systems, suggesting that education alone is insufficient without strategies targeting specific behavioral changes.

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

Recommendation: Uncertainties about waste using an online survey and review approach: Environmentalist perceptions, household waste compositions and views from media and science — R0/PR2

A survey combined with a mini-review explored individuals' perceptions of their own waste generation, finding general concern about plastic pollution but limited understanding of personal contribution. Better public awareness of household plastic waste behaviors is important for designing effective policies to reduce the plastic entering the environment and eventually fragmenting into microplastics.

2023
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of microplastics perception and its factors: Implications on SDGs

This systematic review examines public awareness and understanding of microplastic pollution around the world. The findings show that gender and education level are key factors in how people perceive microplastic risks, and that more research is needed on how awareness translates into behavior changes that could reduce plastic pollution and its health impacts.

2025 Sustainable Futures 1 citations
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
Article Tier 2

The degree of awareness of the risk of microplastic particles/people’s perception in taking preventive measures for this type of risk

This study surveyed public awareness of microplastic risks and perceptions around taking protective measures, finding that knowledge levels were variable and that most people had limited understanding of exposure routes and health implications. The authors call for targeted public communication campaigns to increase risk awareness.

2024 Journal of Engineering Sciences and Innovation
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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Surveys of Knowledge and Awareness of Plastic Pollution and Risk Reduction Behavior in the General Population: A Systematic Review

This systematic review examines public surveys about plastic pollution awareness and whether that knowledge leads people to change their behavior. Understanding what people know and do about plastic pollution is important because individual actions, like reducing single-use plastic, can meaningfully lower microplastic exposure for both people and the environment.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Consumer Awareness of Plastic: an Overview of Different Research Areas

Researchers analyzed consumer awareness of plastic across environmental science, engineering, and materials science literature using bibliometric methods, finding that each discipline frames plastic concerns differently and that a significant gap exists between what researchers prioritize and the plastic-related concerns of everyday consumers.

2023 Circular Economy and Sustainability 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Internet User Awareness Assessment on the Impact of Microplastics on Health

A survey of 281 internet users aged 15–50 across diverse demographics assessed public awareness of microplastic health risks. Results revealed significant gaps in understanding — most respondents had heard of microplastics but underestimated their prevalence in food and water and were unaware of specific health effects. The study highlights that public health messaging about microplastics lags well behind the scientific evidence, which matters because consumer behaviour and policy support both depend on informed public understanding.

2023 Bulletin of Science and Practice 1 citations