Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The social divide in environmental action: demographic gaps in public response to microplastic pollution in Taiwan

A population survey in Taiwan found significant demographic gaps in awareness of and action on microplastic pollution, with education, income, and age being strong predictors of both knowledge and behavioral response. These findings highlight that public health campaigns about microplastics need to be targeted and inclusive, as the populations least engaged may also face the greatest exposure risks.

2026 Health Promotion International
Article Tier 2

Psychological outcomes from a citizen science study on microplastics from household clothes washing

Researchers reported on the psychological outcomes for participants in a citizen science project studying household microplastic sources, finding that engagement with microplastic research increased environmental awareness and motivated behavior change around plastic use.

2025
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

Fishermen’s Preferences for Ecological Policies and Behavior Analysis: A Case Study of Weihai City, China

This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it analyzes Chinese fishermen's policy preferences for fishery ecological protection using choice experiments and economic modeling, with no focus on plastic pollution.

2024 Sustainability 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of community participation on sustainable development: an assessment of sustainability domains in Malaysia

This paper is not relevant to microplastics — it investigates how community participation in coral reef conservation programs affects sustainable development outcomes in Malaysia.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating Employee Green Behavior through Perceived Organizational Support for the Environment in the Hotel Industry

This paper is not relevant to microplastics; it studies how organizational support for environmental practices influences employees' green behaviors in Bangladeshi hotels.

2023 Business Perspective Review 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the psychological antecedents of private and public sphere behaviours to reduce household plastic consumption

Researchers surveyed 648 people to understand what psychological factors drive different plastic-reduction behaviors — switching to plastic-free products, political activism, and supporting policy. Personal moral norms predicted all three types of action, while feeling personally capable was the strongest driver of purchase decisions, suggesting that reducing plastic use requires addressing both values and practical barriers.

2022 Environment Development and Sustainability 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Next steps for research on society and microplastics

This perspective paper assessed the contributions of social and behavioral sciences to microplastics research, covering policy analysis, public education, and stakeholder engagement. The authors argue for greater integration of social science methods to understand and reduce plastic pollution at the human systems level.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Next steps for research on society and microplastics

This perspective paper outlined priority directions for social and behavioral science research on microplastics, building on the established contributions of social sciences to understanding policy, stakeholder views, and public behavior around plastic pollution. The authors called for greater integration of social science methods to address governance gaps and support effective microplastic management.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Investigating the knowledge, attitude and perception on microplastic pollution: a comparison between residents in Temerloh living in urban and rural areas

Researchers surveyed urban and rural residents of Temerloh, Malaysia, on their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of microplastic pollution, finding gaps in awareness that contribute to poor waste management behaviours and ongoing environmental contamination.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Article Tier 2

Sociodemographic factors and feelings of guilt in household waste management in Peruvian households

This paper is not about microplastics — it examines how sociodemographic factors such as age, income, and education influence feelings of guilt around household waste recycling in Peruvian families.

2024 International Journal of Innovative Research and Scientific Studies 2 citations
Article Tier 2

How Do Information Resources Influencethe Public Environmental Risk Perception?A National Survey in China

This paper is not about microplastics — it is a survey-based study of how different information channels (social media, traditional news, government sources) shape Chinese citizens' environmental risk perception, finding that online information has the strongest effect on perceived environmental threats.

2023 Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution: Exploring the Role of Social Class on Awareness, and Exposure

Researchers examined the relationship between social class and awareness of microplastic pollution through qualitative methods, literature reviews, and interviews. They found that socioeconomic status alone does not fully explain variations in public understanding, with factors like access to credible information, environmental education quality, and community norms playing equally significant roles. The study recommends a multidimensional approach combining improved public education, policy reforms, and community participation to address microplastic pollution across different social groups.

2026 Jurnal Ilmu Kedokteran dan Kesehatan Indonesia
Article Tier 2

Exploring the microplastics health impacts risk perception in Iranian people: Challenges and improvement strategies

Researchers surveyed Iranians to assess their awareness and risk perception of microplastic health hazards, finding significant gaps in public understanding despite growing environmental contamination. The study proposes strategies spanning individual behavior, community education, and national policy to improve microplastic risk management.

2025 Environmental Health Engineering and Management
Article Tier 2

Pro-environmental behaviour is undermined by disgust sensitivity: The case of excessive laundering

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a social psychology study examining how disgust sensitivity and pro-environmental identity conflict to drive excessive laundry washing behavior among European consumers.

2024 PLoS ONE 2 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

Household-Level Strategies to Tackle Plastic Waste Pollution in a Transitional Country

Researchers surveyed 730 Vietnamese households on plastic waste management strategies, finding that waste sorting, environmental fund contributions, and willingness to relocate from polluted areas varied based on socioeconomic factors and environmental awareness.

2023 Urban Science 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of Romanian Student’s Awareness and Needs Regarding Plastic Waste Management

This paper is not relevant to microplastics; it surveys Romanian university students' awareness and environmental behaviors regarding general plastic waste management.

2023 Sustainability 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Social Class and Private-Sphere Green Behavior in China: The Mediating Effects of Perceived Status and Environmental Concern

Researchers examined how social class influences private green behavior in China, finding that perceived social status and environmental concern partially mediate the relationship between objective class position and environmentally friendly actions at home. The study suggests status signaling plays a meaningful role in motivating sustainable consumption.

2023 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 11 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Progressing Towards Environmental Health Targets in China: A Systematic Review of Achievements in Air and Water Pollution under the “Ecological Civilization and the Beautiful China” Dream

This systematic review summarizes China's progress in reducing air and water pollution under its environmental health initiatives. The findings are relevant to microplastic concerns because China is a major producer and consumer of plastics, and the review highlights how industrial pollution, including plastic waste, creates widespread environmental contamination with direct consequences for public health.

2020 Research Square (Research Square)
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Factors of Single-Use Plastic Avoidance Behavior for Environmental Sustainability in China

A structural equation modeling study of 421 Chinese respondents found that attitude, perceived behavioral control, and policy intervention significantly influenced single-use plastic avoidance behavior, mediated by behavioral intentions and plastic-related environmental concerns.

2023 Processes 17 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Drivers of green purchasing behaviour: a systematic review and a research agenda

This systematic review of 41 studies found that environmental concern, health consciousness, social influence, and perceived value are the strongest drivers of green purchasing behavior. While not directly about microplastics, the findings are relevant to understanding what motivates consumers to choose plastic-free or reduced-plastic products.

2023 F1000Research 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Psychological outcomes from a citizen science study on microplastics from household clothes washing

A three-month citizen science project in the Netherlands studied how participating in microfiber laundry bag monitoring influenced residents' environmental awareness and washing behaviors, finding that hands-on engagement with pollution measurement can shift consumer attitudes.

2025 Environmental Science Advances
Article Tier 2

Who worries about microplastics? The relative importance of personal values and individual risk judgements / ¿A quién le preocupan los microplásticos? La importancia relativa de los valores personales y los juicios individuales de riesgo

Researchers surveyed nearly 700 people in Norway to understand what drives public worry about microplastic pollution. They found that personal values and individual risk perceptions were the strongest predictors of concern, more so than demographic factors or general environmental attitudes. The study suggests that communication strategies about microplastic risks should account for how people personally evaluate threats rather than relying solely on scientific information.

2024 PsyEcology Bilingual Journal of Environmental Psychology 5 citations