Plastic on the environment: biological and social perspective

• Autor(a) principal: Soares, Joana Patrícia Antunes
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/30618
• topic: Pollution; Marine litter; Micro(nano)plastics; Social perception; Environmental education

Plastics have been accumulating in marine environment was a result of human behaviour. Plastic debris are the most common type of marine litter found, creating a seriously environmental threat. In this context, the first aim of this work was to study the current knowledge about plastic pollution as well as to analyse what has been done to mitigate the problem. The literature review (Chapter II) revealed an increase interest in the study of the effects of micro(nano)plastic pollution at a biological level from organisms in base of the food chain to human. The literature review highlighted an increasing trend in society involvement in the mitigation of plastic pollution and its impacts but also the need to further investigate the social perceptions about the problem, considering the current scarcity of scientific studies that allow a more comprehensive understanding of this complex process. In this context, selfreport questionnaires were developed to study the perception of society about this environmental problem evaluating their knowledge, impacts perception, pro-environmental behaviours and factors which can predict these behaviours (Chapter III). The study involved 428 participants, living in Portugal, that answered the questionnaires voluntarily, anonymously and online. In general, the results revealed a recognition of plastic pollution as a threat to the environment, the knowledge of the public about plastic behaviour and its biota impacts. The participants expressed a higher frequency in individual environmental behaviours than group behaviours. The data of the study revealed that the lack of resources and information was the most explaining factor for not adopting environmentally friendly behaviours. However, participants recognized that they would adopt if financial incentives were given. Age, gender, general and specific knowledge of plastic pollution revealed to be important factors to adopt pro-environmental behaviours. The factors underlying perceptions on the building of environmental awareness, the sociodemographic characteristics which can be influence perception, and the potential target public to educational intervention were also evaluated (Chapter IV). The results showed that the older and less educated participants were less aware of the problem, revealing higher confidence in mass media message whereas younger and more educated participants privileged expert scientific knowledge. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycles were identified as important target public to be included in environmental education at school curricula. In general, this work allowed us to conclude that the public perception and socio-demographic characteristics influence pro-environmental behaviours. In the future, environmental education in school context but also involving general society should be adopted, with higher focus toward male public.