Papers

61,005 results
|
Systematic Review Tier 1

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.

2026 Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika dan Sains
Article Tier 2

Detecting 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.

2018 Journal of Chemical Education 28 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Educación Química 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Common laboratory reagents: Are they a double-edged sword in microplastics research?

This study tested whether common laboratory reagents themselves are contaminated with microplastics and found measurable plastic particles in several widely used chemicals, raising the concern that lab reagents could be an overlooked source of contamination in microplastic research.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Science Literacy Profile of High School Students: Implications of PBL Didactic Design on the Topic of Microplastics

This education research paper is not primarily about microplastic risks; it studies Indonesian high school students' scientific literacy after a problem-based learning curriculum using microplastics as a teaching topic, assessing students' ability to explain phenomena, evaluate investigations, and interpret data within the PISA framework.

2026 Hydrogen Jurnal Kependidikan Kimia
Article Tier 2

Analytical precision assessment for microplastic analyses

Researchers demonstrated methods for assessing analytical precision in microplastic analysis through initial and continuing laboratory evaluations, establishing repeatability and reproducibility benchmarks to address the widely reported need for improved accuracy in microplastic measurement data.

2022 Chemosphere 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Citizen_Labs – conception and evaluation of a course on plastic waste and microplastic in adult education

Researchers conceived and evaluated a citizen science laboratory course on plastic waste and microplastics for adult education, examining how experiential learning formats can raise environmental awareness and scientific literacy about plastic pollution among non-specialist participants.

2022 CHEMKON 1 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Sustainability
Systematic Review Tier 1

Citizen Science Project's Contribution to Science Learning Outcome: Systematic Literature Review

This systematic review identified 19 types of citizen science projects that contribute to science learning at school and university levels, finding that six key learning outcomes are most commonly achieved, including content knowledge and scientific inquiry skills. This study is not related to microplastics but was included due to its systematic review methodology.

2023 EDUSAINS 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Student participation in a coastal water quality citizen science project and its contribution to the conceptual and procedural learning of chemistry

Researchers developed a citizen science project involving students in monitoring coastal water quality parameters and detecting microplastics, finding that participation improved both conceptual understanding of chemistry and procedural laboratory skills. The study demonstrates the value of citizen science as a formal chemistry learning tool at the secondary level.

2021 Chemistry Education Research and Practice 32 citations
Article Tier 2

High School Sustainable and Green Chemistry: Historical–Epistemological and Pedagogical Considerations

Not relevant to microplastics — this is a chemistry education paper discussing how to better integrate sustainable and green chemistry into high school curricula, tracing the history of the Science, Technology, and Society movement and advocating for systems thinking approaches.

2023 Sustainable Chemistry 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Studies of the effects of microplastics on aquatic organisms: What do we know and where should we focus our efforts in the future?

This review critically evaluates published research on microplastic effects on aquatic organisms and identifies significant gaps between laboratory experiments and real-world conditions. Researchers found that most studies use polystyrene spheres at concentrations far higher than those found in the environment, while the most common microplastics in nature are fragments and fibers of other polymer types. The study calls for more environmentally realistic experimental designs to better understand the actual ecological risks of microplastic pollution.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 1264 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Journal of Geoscience Education 5 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 RSC Sustainability 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Caixas didáticas para popularização científica dos microplásticos e impacto nos organismos e ecossistemas aquáticos

This Brazilian study developed and tested educational kits for teaching students about microplastics and their impacts on ecosystems, deploying the materials in public schools. Science education tools that make microplastic pollution tangible for students are important for building the public awareness needed to drive behavior change and support policy solutions.

2023 Journal of Environmental Analysis and Progress
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and nanoplastic analysis methods, tests and reference materials

Researchers examined current microplastic analysis methods, reference tests, and reference materials, highlighting the limitations of manual counting approaches and evaluating alternatives to enable more scalable, consistent, and cost-effective monitoring of plastic litter accumulation in ocean environments.

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

Microplastics in the Environment: Sources, Detection Techniques, and Analytical Challenges

Researchers review the current state of microplastic science, covering how these tiny plastic particles (under 5mm) enter soil and water from sources like personal care products and degrading plastic waste, and survey the wide range of detection methods — including microscopy, spectroscopy, and machine learning — while identifying the lack of standardized testing as a major remaining challenge.

2025 OALib
Article Tier 2

An Ocean of Science: an educational laboratory approach for the protection and preservation of the marine environment

An educational project called 'An Ocean of Science' developed laboratory activities for schoolchildren to learn about marine pollution, including microplastics, through hands-on scientific investigations. The program aimed to build scientific literacy and environmental awareness among students in multiple countries.

2023 1 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Blueprint for the ideal microplastic effect study: Critical issues of current experimental approaches and envisioning a path forward

A double-weighted meta-analysis incorporating both experimental quality and statistical precision found that most published microplastic effect studies depart substantially from ecologically relevant experimental design, particularly in failing to mimic natural environments. The framework provides a quantitative benchmark for improving the rigor and generalizability of future microplastic toxicity research.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Detecting, sensibilization and measuring microplastics in the environment: a guidebook of practical activities for primary and secondary schools

Researchers developed a practical guidebook for primary and secondary school students to detect, measure, and understand microplastic pollution using table salt as a simple, accessible study matrix. The activities integrate scientific, technological, chemical, and geological concepts while addressing four UN Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to raise environmental awareness about microplastics in the educational system.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Do’s and don’ts of microplastic research: a comprehensive guide

This guide, created by surveying researchers in the field, addresses the biggest challenges in microplastic science, including the lack of standardized methods, limited access to analytical equipment, and difficulty replicating real-world exposure levels in lab tests. It provides best practices for defining, sampling, and testing the health effects of microplastics, aiming to make research more consistent and reliable across studies.

2024 Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution: Where are we regarding research and risk assessment in support of management and regulation?

This review assessed the current state of microplastic research and risk assessment, concluding that more exposure-response studies using standardized methods and material-specific metrics are needed to support effective management and regulation of plastic pollution.

2022 Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Contaminants Adsorption on Microplastics as a Final Degree Project

This conference paper describes a student project on measuring contaminant adsorption onto microplastics as a final degree exercise, introducing students to analytical chemistry methods for studying microplastic-pollutant interactions. Hands-on education about microplastics helps train the next generation of researchers to address this global environmental challenge.

2023 ICERI proceedings
Article Tier 2

Introduction of Hydrosphere Environmental Problems in Lower Secondary School Chemistry Lessons

This education study tested whether teaching secondary school students about water pollution through an online workshop improved their understanding of hydrosphere environmental problems. Students showed improved knowledge after the workshop, though they struggled with understanding the chemical structures of pollutants. While not directly about microplastics, the study addresses environmental education approaches that could help raise awareness about water contaminants including microplastics.

2025 Education Sciences 5 citations