Targeted Education for Microplastic Risk: A Community-Based Intervention in Industrial Thailand

Background/purpose. Microplastics (MPs) pose major health risks, yet public awareness is critically low in high-risk areas, such as Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, leading to hazardous behaviors. This study assessed residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding MPs exposure and subsequently designed a targeted, theory-driven health education program to empower the community. Materials/methods. A three-phase research and development design was applied. Phase 1 involved a cross-sectional survey (n=382) assessing KAP. Phase 2 involved in-depth interviews (n=30) to explore perceptions and barriers. In Phase 3, mixed-methods data were synthesized to develop a four-session health education intervention grounded in Nutbeam’s health literacy model and Thailand’s V-SHAPE framework. Results. The baseline assessment revealed profound knowledge deficits, with over 50.00% of participants unaware of MPs and their health implications. The majority (78.50%) engaged in moderate-risk behaviors, while attitudes were predominantly neutral (50.30%). The qualitative findings identified critical barriers, including misinformation, structural impediments (such as economic reliance on local seafood), and widespread apprehension about contamination. The developed intervention directly addressed these issues through sessions on awareness, media literacy, risk communication, and self-management skills. Conclusion. This study identified significant gaps in microplastic knowledge and high-risk behaviors within a Thai community. An educational intervention was developed that integrates established health literacy frameworks to address these deficits. The findings demonstrate that enhancing environmental health literacy is an effective strategy for promoting positive behavioral change in at-risk populations. Future research should evaluate the program's long-term impact and scalability to inform policy and community engagement initiatives.