Papers

20 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/PR2

This review analyzes 39 peer-reviewed studies on public perceptions of plastic pollution, finding that debate is largely focused on marine environments and single-use plastics. The review notes gaps in public awareness of microplastics' health effects and calls for better communication to inform policy negotiations.

2023
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 — 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

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

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

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

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

The Role of Legislation, Regulatory Initiatives and Guidelines on the Control of Plastic Pollution

This review examines existing plastic pollution regulations globally, finding that despite many proposals and national bans, the overall effectiveness of legislation is unclear and most measures focus narrowly on marine plastics or single-use items. The authors argue that laws often lag behind science and face practical limitations given how deeply embedded plastics are in daily life.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 220 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk perception and risk realities in forming legally binding agreements: The governance of plastics

This study examines how public perception of plastic pollution risk influences the development of legally binding international agreements to address it. Researchers found that while initial public concern focused on human health effects of microplastics, emerging scientific evidence suggests the broader environmental impacts may be the more pressing issue. The study argues that effective plastic governance requires aligning risk perception with scientific evidence to build support for comprehensive policy solutions.

2022 Environmental Science & Policy 80 citations
Review Tier 2

Politics and the plastic crisis: A review throughout the plastic life cycle

This political science review analyzed over 180 studies on the governance of plastics across their full life cycle, finding that marine pollution and microplastics are driving the fastest growth in plastic policy research. The authors identify fragmented governance architectures and the absence of binding international agreements as major obstacles to addressing the global plastic crisis.

2019 Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Energy and Environment 466 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

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

Explore the Impact of Marine Plastic Pollution and Countermeasures

This paper reviewed the scope of marine plastic pollution, its distribution across ocean ecosystems, and its socioeconomic effects on coastal communities, finding that existing international agreements and waste management efforts remain insufficient to address the scale of the problem.

2025 MATEC Web of Conferences
Article Tier 2

Human health evidence in the global treaty to end plastic pollution: a survey of policy perspectives

Researchers surveyed United Nations delegates involved in developing the Global Plastics Treaty to understand how human health evidence is being considered in policy decisions. They found that most delegates support health-based measures and see scientific evidence as essential, but face challenges translating research into actionable policy. The study underscores the importance of making health research accessible and relevant to policymakers working on international plastic pollution agreements.

2025 Cambridge Prisms Plastics 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the marine environment: Current trends and future perspectives

Using a scientometric analysis of published literature, researchers mapped global trends in marine microplastic research from 2010 onward, finding rapid growth in publications, increasing geographic diversity, and a shift toward impacts and solutions. The analysis provides a high-level view of how the field has evolved and where research attention is currently concentrated.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 386 citations
Article Tier 2

Responsibility and Allocation for Environmental Damage Caused by Marine Plastic

Despite its title referencing marine plastic pollution and environmental damage, this paper is primarily a legal analysis of international treaty negotiations over plastic pollution responsibility — not a scientific study of microplastic pollution itself. It examines how national interests and industrial lobbying have stalled the International Plastics Convention and discusses frameworks for allocating environmental liability, and is not directly relevant to microplastic science or human health impacts.

2025 1 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

Challenges for Regulation and Management of Microplastic in Environment and Proposed Changes

This review examines failures in international law and national regulations to adequately address microplastic pollution in water bodies, arguing that recent treaty negotiations have been insufficient and proposing regulatory changes to better manage microplastics in the environment.

2025