Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Factors Affecting Zero-Waste Behaviours of College Students

A survey of college students in South Korea found that family type and disposable product use were the strongest predictors of zero-waste behaviors, with students who reported increased disposable use during COVID-19 showing lower commitment to zero-waste practices. The results suggest that pandemic-related plastic use habits may have lasting effects on young adults' environmental behaviors.

2022 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Gaps between Attitudes and Behavior in the Use of Disposable Plastic Tableware (DPT) and Factors Influencing Sustainable DPT Consumption: A Study of Hong Kong Undergraduates

Researchers surveyed attitudes and actual behaviors toward disposable plastic tableware use in Hong Kong, finding significant gaps between stated environmental concerns and purchasing behavior that were amplified by the COVID-19 takeaway food surge, and analyzing barriers to behavioral change.

2023 Sustainability 4 citations
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

Parental Awareness of Microplastic Pollution and its Relation with Healthy Living Education Consciousness

Researchers surveyed 362 Turkish parents about their awareness of microplastic pollution and its relationship to their consciousness about healthy living education for their children. Results showed a positive correlation between microplastic awareness and healthy living education consciousness, suggesting that environmental awareness and health behavior intentions are linked in parental decision-making.

2025 Çocuk Dergisi / Journal of Child
Article Tier 2

Opinions of parents and parents-to-be on micro- and nanoplastics: knowledge and willingness to implement change in Canada

Researchers surveyed 300 expecting parents and parents of young children in Canada about their knowledge of microplastics and nanoplastics and their willingness to reduce plastic use. While 79% were aware of micro/nanoplastics and 75% understood their environmental impact, knowledge of specific household exposure sources and health effects was lower, suggesting targeted education could drive behavior change.

2025 Microplastics and Nanoplastics
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Single-Use Plastic

This systematic review examines what people know and think about single-use plastics and whether that knowledge changes their behavior. Understanding public attitudes toward disposable plastic is important because single-use items are a primary source of the plastic waste that breaks down into the microplastics now found in human blood, organs, and food.

2022 Journal of Materials in Life Sciences (JOMALISC) 3 citations
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
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

GenZs environmental attitudes and ecology behavior nexus: Urgent education message

Researchers examined the environmental attitudes and ecological behaviors of Generation Z high school and undergraduate students. The study suggests that environmental education in schools is critical for reducing plastic litter pollution, which the authors identify as potentially one of the most significant health challenges of the 21st century.

2024 Interdisciplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycling Intentions Among Karachi's University Students: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Approach Considering Convenience and Consumer Innovativeness

Despite its title referencing packaging and recycling, this paper studies consumer recycling behavior among university students in Karachi, Pakistan — not microplastic pollution. It applies the Theory of Planned Behavior and Diffusion of Innovation theory to understand what drives recycling intentions, and is not directly relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 Electronic Green Journal 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Knowledge of ecological concepts, environmental concern, and ecological behavior: A multiple correlation analysis

This education study examined the relationship between ecological knowledge, environmental concern, and pro-environmental behavior in students. Environmental education that increases knowledge about plastic pollution and microplastics is associated with greater concern and more sustainable behaviors.

2023 JPBI (Jurnal Pendidikan Biologi Indonesia) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Keep Your Litter in the Loop: Predicting Generation Z’s Intention to Recycle Single-use Plastic Waste

Researchers investigated the factors predicting Generation Z's intention to recycle single-use plastic waste in Indonesia, examining how government policy awareness, social movement influence, and behavioral determinants shape recycling intentions among young consumers amid growing plastic waste challenges.

2023 Psychological Research on Urban Society 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour of college students in disposing used masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in DKI Jakarta Province

Not relevant to microplastics — this study surveys knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Jakarta college students regarding disposal of used face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, without addressing microplastic contamination from masks.

2024 F1000Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Risk Perception on Microplastics Pollution in Drinking Water Sources

Researchers surveyed higher education students to assess their risk perception of microplastic pollution in drinking water sources and measured relationships between perception, concern, and behavioral intention to reduce plastic use. The study aimed to identify knowledge gaps and inform awareness campaigns targeting informed plastic reduction behavior among young adults.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 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

Extending the theory of planned behaviour to investigate the issue of microplastics in the marine environment

Researchers extended the theory of planned behaviour to investigate public attitudes toward marine microplastic pollution, finding that environmental awareness and perceived behavioral control significantly predicted consumers' intentions to reduce microplastic-generating product use.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Behaviors and attitudes concerning disposable masks and the environment: A D.C. high school case study

This case study examined high school students' behaviors and attitudes toward disposable mask disposal during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding widespread environmental contamination with masks that shed microplastics. The study highlights the gap between students' environmental awareness and their actual disposal behaviors.

2024 Journal of Emerging Investigators
Article Tier 2

Towards Microplastic Reduction Within Institutions

Researchers surveyed 276 stakeholders at the American Farm School and collaborating institutions to assess willingness to reduce single-use plastics and microplastics, finding high motivation to eliminate single-use plastics and participate in clean-up campaigns, but emphasizing that policy changes must be accompanied by education to achieve meaningful behavioral uptake.

2022 Water Air & Soil Pollution 10 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

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

Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Single Use Plastics among the Residents of a Rural Area in a Coastal District of Karnataka - A Descriptive Study

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding single-use plastics among 319 rural residents in a coastal district of Karnataka, India, finding that more than 70% were aware that single-use plastics are harmful but that behavioral change lagged behind awareness.

2020 National Journal of Community Medicine 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Health consciousness and the theory of planned behavior: the role of health consciousness with the on-campus use of reusable water bottle among Chulalongkorn freshmen

This study examined the factors influencing students' use of reusable water containers on a Thai university campus, finding that health consciousness and social norms were key motivators. The research applies behavioral theory to understanding pro-environmental consumer choices that reduce single-use plastic bottle consumption.

2018 1 citations
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
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Sokoine University Students Regarding Endocrine Disruptors Coming from Plastic Chemicals

Researchers assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of students at Sokoine University in Tanzania regarding microplastic pollution, finding that while awareness was moderate, practical behaviors to reduce plastic use were limited, highlighting the need for applied environmental education.

2025 Journal of biomedical and life sciences.