2026-09-22 カナダ・コンコルディア大学
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.concordia.ca/news/stories/2026/09/22/concordia-researchers-find-convenience-drinking-water-access-and-advertising-drive-global-bottled-water-consumption.html
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652626010000
プラスチックの波：世界的な水消費行動が、使い捨てプラスチック製ペットボトルからのナノプラスチックおよびマイクロプラスチックへの曝露にどのように影響するか The plastic pulse: How global water consumption behaviors shape exposure to nano- and microplastics from single-use plastic water bottles
Sarah Sajedi, Chunjiang An
Journal of Cleaner Production Available online: 16 May 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148459
Highlights
- Global survey reveals behavioral and demographic patterns in plastic bottle use.
- Education, age, and gender significantly influence consumption and recycling habits.
- Convenience, travel, and social influence are key drivers of bottled water reliance.
- Public awareness of microplastics and perceived health risks is widespread.
- Insights support targeted education and policy actions to reduce plastic dependence.
Abstract
Understanding how everyday hydration behaviors contribute to human exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) is an emerging public health priority. This study examines the extent to which personal water consumption habits, especially reliance on single-use plastic (SUP) water bottles, influence potential NMP exposure. Using a global dataset of 15,143 respondents from 81 countries collected via ArcGIS Survey123, we assessed consumption frequency, recycling habits, situational triggers, and awareness of environmental and health impacts. Multivariate analyses, including logistic regression, principal component analysis, and factor analysis, revealed strong associations between consumption behaviors and demographic variables such as age, education, gender, and race. Younger respondents and those with higher education levels reported greater consumption and recycling, whereas older adults more frequently used refillable bottles. Motivations for SUP water bottles use varied across behavioral clusters, with convenience, travel, and social influence emerging as key predictors. Awareness of microplastic contamination was high: 75% of participants believed that SUP water bottles contain microplastics, and 70% perceived a link to cancer risk. Preferences for sustainable alternatives, such as filtered water and glass containers, were closely aligned with environmental awareness. Infrastructure limitations and advertisement exposure further shaped consumption patterns. By integrating environmental science, behavioral analysis, and public health perspectives, this study identifies behavioral exposure pathways that can inform targeted risk communication, sustainable consumption strategies, and evidence-based policy. SUP water bottles were examined due to their unique role as a direct ingestion pathway for microplastics, distinguishing them from other single-use plastics whose exposure routes are less behavior-dependent.
