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Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Detecting, sensibilization and measuring microplastics in the environment: a guidebook of practical activities for primary and secondary schools
ClearDetecting Microplastics in Soil and Sediment in an Undergraduate Environmental Chemistry Laboratory Experiment That Promotes Skill Building and Encourages Environmental Awareness
Researchers developed an undergraduate environmental chemistry laboratory experiment for detecting microplastics in soil and sediment using research-based methods, demonstrating that the exercise effectively builds analytical skills while increasing students' awareness of microplastic pollution and its environmental prevalence.
Integrating STEM Curriculum Across the Schools' Learning Environment to Reflect & Impact Life Practices
This paper is not about microplastics. It discusses integrating STEM curriculum across school environments to promote sustainability education and critical thinking, referencing UN Sustainable Development Goals. While it mentions environmental challenges broadly, the paper focuses on educational pedagogy rather than microplastic pollution or environmental contamination research.
Microplastic Presence in Commercial Sea Salt: Sampling and Quantification Challenges
Researchers quantified microplastic presence in commercially available sea salt from multiple countries, encountering significant challenges in sampling protocols and analytical detection limits that complicated comparisons between studies. The authors propose standardized sampling and extraction methods to improve reproducibility in sea salt microplastic research.
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.
Can we investigate microplastic pollution with school students? Experiences from eight years of citizen science research
Researchers reported on eight years of citizen science microplastic research conducted with school students through the Plastic Pirates program, sharing methodological experiences and lessons learned from involving more than 24,000 participants across Germany and other European countries in rigorous environmental monitoring.
Can we investigate microplastic pollution with school students? Experiences from eight years of citizen science research
Researchers shared eight years of experience from the Plastic Pirates citizen science program involving over 24,000 school students and teachers in microplastic research across Germany, addressing challenges of contamination prevention, particle size, and sample processing in non-laboratory settings. The study evaluated the feasibility and scientific validity of engaging young citizen scientists in standardized riverine microplastic monitoring.
Observing Microplastics in the Environment through Citizen-Science-Inspired Laboratory Investigations
This paper describes three hands-on laboratory activities developed for high school students to extract, count, and identify microplastics from personal care products, water, and sediment samples, inspired by citizen science methods. The activities aim to increase students' environmental literacy and motivate engagement with the microplastics problem through direct experimentation. Engaging young people in microplastics science is important for building the next generation of environmentally aware citizens and researchers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Scientific literacy through Problem-Based Learning focusing on the occurrence and consequences of microplastics in the environment
Researchers implemented a Problem-Based Learning approach to develop scientific literacy skills in students by focusing on the occurrence and environmental consequences of microplastics. The study, conducted in a Portuguese-language educational context, used microplastics as a real-world science topic to cultivate critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making competencies.
Microparticles in Table Salt: Levels and Chemical Composition of the Smallest Dimensional Fraction
Analysis of commercially available table salts found microplastic particles and non-synthetic micro-particles in multiple brands, with the smallest size fractions being most abundant and most difficult to identify. The study raises concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through a universally consumed food product.
Marine litter education: From awareness to action
An educational intervention on marine litter designed for students from primary to high school level, incorporating lab work and a beach clean-up, significantly changed participants knowledge, perceptions, and behavioral intentions as measured by pre- and post-questionnaires.
A new analytical technique for the extraction and quantification of microplastics in marine sediments focused on easy implementation and repeatability
This paper describes a new analytical method for extracting and quantifying microplastics from sediment using common laboratory equipment and salt solutions, making microplastic analysis more accessible to laboratories without specialized instruments. Standardized, low-cost methods are essential for expanding the geographic and temporal coverage of microplastic monitoring.
Extraction of microplastics from commonly used sea salts in India and their toxicological evaluation
Scientists extracted and characterized microplastics from commercial sea salts sold in India, finding contamination across brands and conducting toxicological tests showing potential harm to marine organisms.
Microplásticos no corpo humano: um percurso investigativo no ensino médio para despertar a consciência ambiental
This experience report describes a secondary school investigative didactic sequence in Brazil on microplastics in the human body, guiding 10th-grade students from initial hypothesis through flipped classroom activities to experimental investigation. The project successfully engaged students with environmental science and raised awareness of personal microplastic exposure.
Taking care of our planet: measuring and managing the environmental impact
This educational project engaged high school students in measuring and analyzing environmental impacts related to ocean health as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The project aimed to raise awareness about marine pollution, including plastic waste, among young citizens.
Fourteen-Year-Old Students’ Understanding of Problems Related to Microplastics in the Environment
Researchers assessed 14-year-old Slovenian students' understanding of microplastics in the environment, a topic absent from the national curriculum. The study found that students had limited knowledge, though performance correlated with grades in chemistry and biology, and exposure through informal or extracurricular science activities improved understanding.