Consumption Patterns and Health Perceptions Regarding Plastic Pollution: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nursing Students in India

Plastic pollution is a growing global concern with serious implications for environmental sustainability and public health. As future healthcare providers, nursing students play a critical role in promoting awareness and sustainable practice.

This study aimed to assess the consumption behavior of undergraduate nursing students and their perceptions regarding the impact of plastic pollution on human health and conditions, as well as the seriousness of its effects on society.

Data were gathered through a cross-sectional online survey of 511 nursing students recruited through convenience sampling at two selected health sciences universities in India.

Over one-third of the students (35.2%) used single-use plastic goods daily. The majority of students (29.2%) cited convenience as their primary reason for using plastics, while 25% and 21.1% indicated that they made minimal or no attempt to reduce the number of plastics they utilized. Nearly four out of ten (41.9%) students were unaware of the difference between biodegradable and recyclable plastics. Over half of the respondents perceived a high impact of plastic pollution on human health (52.1%) and the environment (81.4%). Respiratory (84.2%) and oncological (83.9%) conditions were the most frequently attributed health consequences. Students rated water pollution (67.9%) and marine environmental damage (61.8%) as the most serious societal impacts. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive association between perceived health impacts and pro-environmental behaviors (r = 0.121, p < 0.01), while regression analysis identified perceived health impacts (B = 0.032, p = 0.048) as a significant but weak predictor of behavior.

This study highlights moderate to high perceptions among nursing students regarding the health and environmental impacts of plastic pollution, yet reveals gaps in plastic consumption behavior, with continued use of single-use plastics due to convenience. However, the regression results showed that the model explained only a small proportion of the variance in plastic-use behavior, indicating that other unmeasured factors may influence these behaviors.

This study underscores the need for structured, policy-driven educational interventions in healthcare training to transform students’ concerns about plastic pollution into consistent, environmentally responsible behaviors.