Page - 217 - in Freshwater Microplastics - Emerging Environmental Contaminants?

scope of environmental management, integrating biological, cultural, and social dimensions, and through this leads to a growing responsibility within the local community regardingnature protection. If citizens are included in the problem formulation phase of a risk assessment andmeet thescientists inamutual,not just formal,dialogue, theirunderstandingof the riskwill oftenbemorequalified.This againcan lead tocitizenscontributing to determining how risks are best addressed in their local community, whichwould leavethemwithhigherdegreeofcontrolover therisk,andifcitizensareincludedin givingdifferent riskspriority, thismightalsoensure that theyengage inmaking the local community a responsible actor in the nature protection. Different kinds of bottom-upCS confirm this, as, for instance, described by [65], discussing experi- ences fromaproject in adeprivedurbancommunity inLondon.Since someof the drivers for riskperceptions relate tohowknown the risk is (driver 3),whether it is facedvoluntary(driver1),and thedegreeofcontrolover therisk(driver2),abetter integrationofcitizensvia thebottom-upapproachmightensure thatcitizensobtain amorequalified risk perception. 8 ConcludingRemarks The risk perception of plastic pollution has developed markedly since the first discoveries of oceanic plastic debris. In the first part of this chapter, we have illustrated how this development can largely be described with eight common drivers for risk perception.Common themes formanyof these drivers are towhat degree the problems of character, magnitude, potential impact, and solutions are understood. This implies that greater insight into these aspects by citizens will almost inevitably result in amore informed risk perception. Risk drivers such as howknown the risk is (driver 2), possible benefits associatedwith the risk (driver 3), the novelty of the risk (driver 7), and whether the risk is tangible or abstract (driver 8) are all influenced by the degree of insight people have. In the case of plasticpollution, thisgreater insighthasbeenbuiltupover the last fewdecadesand hasstimulatedadevelopment towardamuchbroaderunderstandingof theproblem andahigher degree of perceived risk associatedwith plastic pollution. In thesecondpartof thechapter,weaddresshowcitizensciencegeneratesmore awareness of the plastic pollution problem, improves risk perception, evolves science, and even contributes to actively addressing the plastic pollution problem. Classical top-down form of citizen science has had a significant impact of risk perception and subsequent societal measures. However, this type of mode 2 research, where scientists and citizens collaboratemore systematically, has the potential to improve thispositiveprocessevenfurther.Wedescribehowbottom-up citizen science has been used to improve public participation, increase local ownership, improve scientific understanding, and enhance transparency within several different environmental topics. Within the area of plastic pollution, bottom-up CS has the potential to enable citizens to address the local pollution RiskPerceptionofPlastic Pollution: Importance ofStakeholder Involvement. . . 217