Public awareness of microplastic pollution among residents of a western Turkish province and how it is reflected in demographics and behavioural practices
Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju, vol.77, no.1, pp.57-64, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 77 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.2478/aiht-2026-77-4030
- Journal Name: Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju
- Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, EMBASE, Greenfile, Directory of Open Access Journals
- Page Numbers: pp.57-64
- Keywords: age differences, dobne razlike, education, environmental health, gender differences, obrazovanje, okolišno zdravlje, plastic, plastika, rodne razlike, socioeconomic factors, socioekonomski čimbenici
- Kütahya Health Sciences University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the public awareness of and attitudes toward microplastic pollution in the Kütahya Province of Turkey between September and December 2024 and included 406 users of regional family healthcare centres. Data were collected with a specifically developed questionnaire combining sociodemographic information and self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour related to the microplastics issue and with our Microplastic Pollution Awareness Scale (MPAS), against which we compared the answers to the first questionnaire. MPAS scores were significantly higher among women than men, persons under the age of 40, unmarried participants, university graduates (5.1 times higher than in those with lower education), and residents of developed regions (2.3 times higher than among residents of underdeveloped or developing regions). Overall, participants show pretty good awareness of microplastic pollution. Future prospective studies should cover all ages, but more importantly, develop effective intervention programmes aimed at changing public behaviour. Ovo presječno ispitivanje imalo je za cilj procijeniti razinu javne svijesti i stavova o onečišćenju mikroplastikom u pokrajini Kütahya u Turskoj u razdoblju od rujna do prosinca 2024., a obuhvatilo je 406 korisnika područnih centara obiteljske zdravstvene skrbi. Podaci su prikupljeni pomoću za tu priliku posebno osmišljenog upitnika, koji obuhvaća sociodemografske podatke te samoprocijenjeno znanje, stavove i ponašanja povezana s mikroplastikom te pomoću naše Ljestvice svjesnosti o onečišćenju mikroplastikom (engl. Microplastic Pollution Awareness Scale, krat. MPAS), s kojom smo usporedili odgovore iz prvog upitnika. Rezultati na ljestvici bili su značajno viši u žena nego muškaraca, u osoba mlađih od 40 godina, neoženjenih, osoba sa završenim sveučilišnim obrazovanjem (5,1 puta viši nego u ispitanika s nižom razinom obrazovanja) te u stanovnika razvijenih područja (2,3 puta viši nego u stanovnika slabije razvijenih područja). Općenito, sudionici su pokazali prilično dobru razinu svijesti o onečišćenju mikroplastikom. Buduća prospektivna istraživanja trebala bi obuhvatiti sve dobne skupine i, što je još važnije, osmisliti učinkovite intervencijske programe, usmjerene na promjenu ponašanja javnosti.