Nanoplastics in Urban Waters

Corsi, Ilaria; Bergami, Elisa; Allan, Ian; Gigault, Julien

doi:10.1002/9781119759379.ch13

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 177 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Although the scientific literature on MNPs and their effects on organisms and ecosystem functions is vast and constantly updated, relatively few studies have analysed the perception of this environmental issue in its social dimension [7], resulting in the need to understand how much scientific knowledge about MNPs reaches citizens (i.e., as the Sustainability 2024, 16, 4637 2 of 15 main end users and consumers) and through which information channels. Indeed, even though land-based sources (including inadequate industrial and domestic disposal and littering) represent the primary pathways by which MNPs are released in the environment and migrate among different matrices [8][9][10], people might not be fully aware of how much their lifestyle and attitudes can contribute to such contamination.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Level of Awareness and Attitudes towards Plastic Contamination by Students of an Italian University

Righi,

Bergami,

Simonini

et al. 2024

Sustainability

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) represent one of the main environmental emergencies worldwide, citizens are not always aware of their active role in contributing to such contamination. In this study, the perception, level of knowledge, and behaviours towards MNPs were assessed in young citizens in Modena (Italy), represented by science-oriented Bachelor’s students (n = 220) enrolled at the university, through the administration of a voluntary-based questionnaire. No differences in knowledge and in students’ attitudes were observed according to gender and the undergraduate program. Students seem to be aware of MNPs’ global distribution and effects on ecosystems but were less advised about MNP types and their potential effects on human health. A positive correlation between the students’ level of concern and their knowledge or their behaviour was found. Differently, no correlation between students’ knowledge and behaviour towards plastic and MNP contamination was observed. Thus, having a good knowledge of the issue does not always translate into effective actions planned to mitigate the problem. As a first step forward, more environmental education programs should be promoted to increase knowledge and awareness in young citizen as well as pro-environmental behaviours to pursue future mitigation strategies.

show abstract