Public attitudes towards microplastics: Perceptions, behaviors and policy implications

Deng, Lingzhi; Cai, Lu; Sun, Fengyun; Li, Gen; Che, Yue

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.105096

Cited by 105 publications

(84 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Only a few students mentioned plastic items, plastic waste, detergents, textiles, or food products. Similar results were obtained in the study by Deng et al [ 88 ], in which the respondents were familiar with conventional plastic products such as plastic bottles but less familiar with paints or textile fibers. Also, in this study, none of the students was aware of the release of fibers from hygiene products ( e .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Conceptions of university students on microplastics in Germany

Raab

Bogner

2021

PLoS ONE

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Microplastics are a global challenge and a frequently studied environmental issue. Hence, the knowledge body about microplastics within the scientific community is growing fast and challenges an elaborated knowledge transfer from science to the general public. Just as well-informed people are the basis for reducing microplastics’ impact on the environment, knowledge of the audience’s conceptions is the basis for an accurate and successful dissemination of scientific findings. However, insights into the publics’ perceptions of microplastics are still rare. The present study aimed to capture students’ conceptions about microplastics based on their individual experiences following qualitative inductive, exploratory research. Therefore, 267 students of a state university in Germany responded to a paper-and-pencil questionnaire containing open and closed questions on microplastic-related conceptual understanding, risk perception, information behavior, sources, and sinks. The inductive classifying of all responses by a qualitative content analysis revealed six basic concepts: 1) Microplastics are mainly understood as small plastic particles. 2) Microplastics are closely associated with its negative consequences. 3) The most labeled source in households is plastic packaging. 4) Compared to other water bodies, microplastics are rarely suspected in groundwater. 5) A high threat awareness exists in classifying microplastics as very dangerous and dangerous. 6) Media such as TV or the Internet are the most crucial information sources while the school has less importance in acquiring information. It is precisely this pattern that indicates the need for profound science communication to establish a joint and scientifically sound knowledge base in society. Knowledge about conceptions of potential “customers” allows tailor-made scientific knowledge transfers to shape public awareness, initiate changes in thoughts and prepare the field for collaborative behavior.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Conceptions of university students on microplastics in Germany

Raab

Bogner

2021

PLoS ONE

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“…In the absence of qualitative data, it is unclear to what extent people perceive singleuse masks as litter that is non-harmful to the environment. While micro-plastics have been repeatedly in the news in the early part of 2021, there appears to be a disconnect between awareness of the existence of microplastics (and their environmental consequences) [44,45] and the discarding of single-use masks and the resulting microplastics. Indeed, recent media items certainly comment on the polluting effects of discarded single-use masks, but only allude to them as a macro-litter [46].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID Face Masks: Policy Shift Results in Increased Littering

Spennemann

2021

Sustainability

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The introduction of the mandatory use of fitted face masks in indoor spaces to limit the transmission of COVID-19 resulted in increased municipal waste of discarded single-use surgical face masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) such as latex gloves. In parallel, the occurrence of intentionally or accidentally discarded masks has created a major environmental problem. This paper presents the data of a longitudinal study of the occurrence of discarded face masks in an urban environment of a community in regional Australia. It demonstrates that the shift from voluntary to mandatory use of fitted face masks resulted in an immediate increase of publicly discarded masks and other items of PPE. The overserved spatial and temporal patterns allow us to draw inferences on human behavior.

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“…Global concern about microplastic pollution with its threat to food safety and public health has increased over time. However, there is no effective technical method to tackle and remove microplastics from the environment (Deng et al, 2020). Therefore, public attitudes towards plastic use and integrated waste management principles are sustainable paths to reducing microplastic pollution.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microplastics are ubiquitous and their potential harm to human health and the environment has received increasing attention from the public and scienti c community (Deng et al, 2020, Olarinmoye et al, 2020. With unabated proliferation of plastic waste in the environment, public awareness and public understanding of how microplastics could evolve and how they are impacting the environment especially the Lagos Lagoon which is an hotspot for diverse seafood cannot be overemphasized.…”

Section: Relationship Between Demographics Variables and Awareness Of Micro Plastic Pollutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Health Knowledge and Perception of Microplastics Pollution: Lessons from the Lagos Lagoon

Omoyajowo¹,

Raimi²,

Waleola³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Background: The magnitude of ocean plastic debris is forecast to triple within the next decade due to a number of factors such as increased plastic demands and production, inadequate waste disposal and management, unhealthy lifestyle and poor knowledge on the health impact of plastic waste among several others, all of which could be exacerbated by COVID-19 and climate change and cause humanity to face a disaster for ocean health in less than 20 years. Hence, microplastic pollution is globally flagged as one of the biggest threats to biodiversity in recent time as they are found nearly everywhere in the environment. While, the world confronts the plastic problem and transitions towards a circular system, turning the ubiquitous plastic loads around requires both momentum and careful navigation. So far, if the burning of plastics and the accumulation of the materials in oceans and landfill is to be reduced, the industry cannot continue to manufacture plastics at the current rate.Objectives: This paper explores public health knowledge and perception of microplastics pollutionMethods: Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20.0) and a significance difference was established at 5% with p<0.05 considered to be statistically significant. Results: The result reveals that out of the 102 respondents that participated in the study, 59 respondents representing 57.8% were aware of microplastic pollution. Nonetheless, a significant association between awareness of microplastic pollution and the category of workers (p =0.004, p<0.05) was observed. The mean score on knowledge of microplastic is less than the expected weighted mean of 3.00 for 5 points rating scale which implies that the respondents have poor knowledge of microplastic pollution though they show better knowledge of the serious global problem of microplastic pollution than other knowledge items. Result also indicates that the mean score on perception is greater than 3.00 (3.32) which indicates that the respondents have a good perception of microplastic pollution. Conclusion: There is a need to strengthen advocacy coalition framework (ACF) communication and learning for the determination towards improving the opportunities to protect public interests, including a thorough review of all policy processes, with policy change. This will help highlight the learning importance and involving citizen stakeholder’s participation through observing risk communication on environmental pollutants menace while advancing citizen risk perception, thus influencing risk perception on plastic pollution, as well as the citizens involvement in such environmental problems. Hence, research role as well as creating education awareness will help enlighten the development of policy on the dangers of plastic pollution.

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Public attitudes towards microplastics: Perceptions, behaviors and policy implications

Cited by 105 publications

References 39 publications

Conceptions of university students on microplastics in Germany

Conceptions of university students on microplastics in Germany

COVID Face Masks: Policy Shift Results in Increased Littering

Public Health Knowledge and Perception of Microplastics Pollution: Lessons from the Lagos Lagoon

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