Informing the Public and Educating Students on Plastic Recycling

Impacts of education and perception on Vietnamese high school students' behaviors regarding plastic waste: the mediating role of attitude

This study analyzed the impact of educational, perception, and attitudinal factors on the plastic waste behavior of high school students in Vietnam. A cross-sectional research design and questionnaire survey method were used to collect data from 573 high school students. All the statistical analyses and hypothesis tests were performed using SPSS 26 and AmoS 20 software. Research results show that perception does not directly affect students' behavior toward the plastic waste problem (B = 0.051, p = 0.201 > 0.05, CI = [- 0.027; 0.130]) but has an indirect impact through attitude mediation, with an impact coefficient of B = 0.107 (p = 0.016 < 0.05, CI = [0.042; 0.177]). Educational factors positively impact students' behavior toward plastic waste through both direct effects, with an impact coefficient of B = 0.546 (p = 0.00 < 0.05, CI = [0.473; 0.620], and indirect effects, mediated by attitude, with an impact coefficient of B = 0.017 (p = 0.007 < 0.05, CI = [0.003; 0.037]). These findings are new compared to previous studies, contributing to enriching theories related to behavior toward the plastic waste problem and bringing practical significance to Vietnam. The findings of this study provide the basis for proposing measures to improve plastic waste behaviors for Vietnamese high school students.

Ecotoxicological perspectives of microplastic pollution in amphibians

Microplastics (MPs) are contaminants widely distributed in the environment and biota. Previously, most studies focused on identifying and characterizing microplastics in the marine environment, while their impact on freshwater ecosystems remains to be determined. This review summarizes recent findings regarding MPs physiological, immunological, and genetic effects on amphibians based upon the biological relevance of this species as indicators of freshwater pollution. Data demonstrated that MPs contamination may potentially alter various physiological processes in aquatic animals, mainly in the embryonic stages. It is worthwhile noting that adverse effects might be enhanced in synergy with other pollutants. However, amphibians might counteract the effect of MPs and other pollutants through microbiota present both in the intestine and on the skin. In addition, amphibian microbial composition might also be altered by MPs themselves in a manner that leads to unpredicted health consequences in amphibians.

Occurrence, impact, toxicity, and degradation methods of microplastics in environment-a review

Microplastic defines as a tiny plastic particle that has a size of less than 5 mm and is ubiquitous in the environment. Due to the tiny size, this microplastic adversely affected the environment, notably aquatic life via ingestion, choking, and entanglement. This microplastic is arduous to degrade as it takes a thousand years due to the properties of plastic itself and consequently remains in nature. In dealing with microplastic issues, this paper reflects the occurrence, impact, toxicity, and degradation methods of microplastics in the environment including physical, chemical, and biological treatments. Here, the physical treatment methods include incineration treatment, ultraviolet (UV), and photocatalytic. The incineration process contributes to environmental pollution due to the release of toxic gases into the atmosphere. In addition, chemical treatments for plastic waste are the degradation process involving chemical additives such as ethylene glycol (EG), nano-magnesium oxide (MgO), diethylene glycol (DEG), and calcium or zinc (Ca/Zn) stearate as a catalyst. These treatments depend on the chemicals that can affect human health and the ecosystem. The biodegradation treatment using bacterial and fungal species can consume the microplastic without disrupting the surrounding environment and biota. It includes recent findings on the biodegradation of microplastic under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Thus, biodegradation can be considered the best option to degrade microplastic as green and sustainable technology.