Papers

61,005 results
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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
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
Review Tier 2

Attitudes towards Plastic Pollution: A Review and Mitigations beyond Circular Economy

This review examined attitudes of consumers, industries, and governments toward plastic pollution, identifying behavioral barriers and synthesizing mitigation strategies that go beyond circular economy frameworks to address systemic plastic over-consumption.

2023 Waste 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Regional Insights on the Usage of Single-Use Plastics and Their Disposal in Five Asian Cities

Researchers surveyed nearly 1,500 people across five Asian cities to understand how single-use plastics are consumed and disposed of in the region. They found significant differences in plastic consumption patterns between cities, with food packaging and plastic bags being the most commonly used items. The study provides data to help policymakers design targeted interventions to reduce plastic waste and marine pollution in rapidly developing parts of Asia.

2025 Sustainability 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors Related to Reducing The Use of Plastic Bags in Kabupaten Bekasi

This Indonesian survey study examined the factors that influence whether people in Bekasi Regency reduce their use of plastic bags, finding that knowledge, attitudes, and access to alternatives were key predictors. Reducing single-use plastic bag consumption is important for limiting the amount of plastic that fragments into microplastics in the environment. The paper provides insights for designing behavior-change interventions aimed at plastic pollution reduction.

2021 Muhammadiyah International Public Health and Medicine Proceeding
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review of Consumer Perception: Factors Affecting Green Shopping Bags

This systematic review examines what drives consumers to choose reusable shopping bags over plastic ones. Understanding these factors helps reduce plastic bag waste at the source, which is important because plastic bags are a major contributor to microplastic pollution as they break down in the environment.

2023 International Journal of Applied Engineering and Management Letters 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Mikromuovit Aasian rannikkovesissä

This literature review examined the sources and quantities of microplastics in the coastal waters of Asian countries, finding that the region contributes disproportionately to global microplastic pollution due to its large population, high plastic consumption, and inadequate waste management infrastructure.

2025 Aaltodoc (Aalto University)
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic literature review of voluntary behaviour change approaches in single use plastic reduction

This systematic review examines efforts to voluntarily reduce single-use plastic consumption through behavior change rather than legislation. The research finds that while government bans on plastics are effective, voluntary approaches that respect individual choice can also make a difference. Understanding what motivates people to reduce plastic use is key to tackling the microplastic pollution problem at its source.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management 28 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of microplastics perception and its factors: Implications on SDGs

This systematic review examines public awareness and understanding of microplastic pollution around the world. The findings show that gender and education level are key factors in how people perceive microplastic risks, and that more research is needed on how awareness translates into behavior changes that could reduce plastic pollution and its health impacts.

2025 Sustainable Futures 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Consumer Habits and Practices for Cosmetics: a Statistical Approach

Despite its title referencing cosmetics consumer habits, this paper studies the behavioral and sociological factors driving cosmetic purchasing decisions — not microplastic pollution. It examines survey data on consumer attitudes toward cosmetic products and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

2025 Journal of Science and Arts 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
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics in Freshwater Environment in Asia: A Systematic Scientific Review

This systematic review summarizes existing research on microplastic contamination in Asian freshwater environments, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The study found that microplastics are widespread in Asian freshwater systems, with research concentrated in China and Southeast Asia, and identified potential risks to both aquatic life and human health. Since billions of people in Asia rely on freshwater for drinking and food production, this contamination is a significant public health concern.

2022 Water 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices toward Plastic Pollution among Malaysians: Implications for Minimizing Plastic Use and Pollution

Researchers surveyed Malaysians about their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding plastic pollution. The study found that while most people were aware of plastic pollution problems, there was a significant gap between awareness and actual behavior change. The findings suggest that education campaigns alone are insufficient and need to be paired with practical infrastructure and policy changes to reduce plastic use.

2023 Sustainability 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire Assessing Plastic Use Patterns, Knowledge, and Attitudes Toward Microplastics in Relation to Cognitive Function in Indonesia

Researchers developed and validated a questionnaire to assess plastic use patterns, microplastic knowledge, and attitudes among Indonesian adults, with a focus on potential associations with cognitive function. The study provides a validated tool for measuring public awareness of microplastic exposure in Indonesia, where plastic pollution is particularly severe, and explores the emerging concern about neurocognitive effects of microplastic exposure.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Factors Influencing Consumers' Intention to Avoid Fast Fashion: A Comparative Study of Milan and Shanghai

Fast fashion is a significant source of microplastic pollution because synthetic clothing fibers shed during washing and enter waterways. This cross-cultural study compared what drives consumers in Milan and Shanghai to avoid plastic-based fast fashion, finding that personal attitudes and environmental concern are powerful motivators in both cities — but with different emphases: attitude toward behavior was stronger in Shanghai while value-based environmental concern was more influential in Milan. The results suggest that reducing clothing-related microplastic pollution requires culturally tailored messaging rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

2026 European Journal of Innovative Studies and Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Explicitly and Implicitly Measured Valence and Risk Attitudes Towards Plastic Packaging, Plastic Waste, and Microplastic in a German Sample

This psychology study measured both explicit and implicit attitudes toward plastic packaging and microplastics in German consumers, finding that people simultaneously appreciate the convenience of plastic while expressing concern about pollution. The gap between attitudes and behavior helps explain why plastic consumption continues despite public concern about microplastics.

2021 3 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

Predictive Power of Goal-striving Reasons for Self-reported and Actual Plastic Consumption

This psychology study examined whether people's reasons for reducing plastic use can predict their actual plastic consumption behavior. Understanding the psychological drivers of plastic reduction could inform more effective public communication campaigns about microplastic pollution.

2021 Humanities and Social Sciences
Article Tier 2

CO2 Emissions from Plastic Consumption Behaviors in Thailand

This paper is not about microplastics; it surveys plastic consumption behavior in Thai households and estimates the resulting CO2 emissions from end-of-life plastic disposal, focusing on climate change implications.

2023 Sustainability 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic waste and microplastic issues in Southeast Asia

This review examines the plastic waste and microplastic crisis across Southeast Asia, a region that contributes significantly to global ocean plastic pollution. The authors found that inadequate waste collection, limited recycling infrastructure, and rapid economic growth are driving the problem. The study evaluates current waste management systems and proposes strategies for improving plastic waste reduction in these countries.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 117 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

Prevalence of Plastic Usage and the Factors Associated With It Among Adults in Perambalur District of South India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Researchers surveyed 1,200 adults in South India about their plastic use habits, finding that 92.5% use plastic daily despite widespread awareness of its harms and local bans on plastic bags. The study found that younger, urban, more educated, and male participants were the heaviest plastic users, indicating that awareness alone is not enough to change behavior.

2023 Cureus 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Consumer Knowledge, Attitudes and Behaviors towards the Use of Plastic Bags in the Kingdom of BAHRAIN

A survey of consumer knowledge and attitudes toward plastic bag use in Bahrain found that despite awareness of environmental harms, usage remains high due to convenience and free availability. While the study touches on plastic pollution broadly, it does not present microplastic research data and is more a behavioral/policy study.

2023 International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting Finance and Management Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Domestic Plastic Consumption Patterns: A Data-Informed Sociological Analysis of Education and Behaviour Among Homemakers

A household survey in Pakistan found that plastic bottles, bags, and containers dominate domestic consumption, with education level influencing awareness but not necessarily behavior. Understanding consumption patterns at the household level is foundational for reducing the volume of single-use plastics that ultimately fragment into microplastics in the environment.

2023 The Asian Bulletin of Big Data Management 1 citations