Environmental Pollution Perception and Awareness among Households and College Students in Coastal Regions: An Empirical Study from Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Environmental pollution remains an important concern for public health, ecological sustainability and local development, particularly in coastal regions where livelihoods and natural resources are closely connected. This study examines environmental pollution awareness and pollution risk perception among households and college students in Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu. Primary data were collected from 440 respondents, including 220 household respondents and 220 college students, using a multistage sampling procedure covering selected rural and urban areas. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance were applied to assess awareness levels, perceived pollution risks and variations across selected socio-economic characteristics. The results indicate that 38.2 per cent of respondents were well aware of environmental pollution issues, while 25.9 per cent reported moderate awareness. A further 21.4 per cent remained neutral and 14.5 per cent reported low awareness; overall, 64.1 per cent reported either high or moderate awareness. Among the listed pollution-related risks, uranium mining received the highest mean score, followed by industrial soil contamination, mobile phone towers, genetically modified food and passive smoking. The analysis also shows that pollution risk perception differed significantly across education and family income groups. These findings suggest that socio-economic characteristics are associated with variations in environmental awareness and perceived pollution risks. The study highlights the need to strengthen environmental education, improve public awareness and encourage community participation in environmental protection. The findings may assist local authorities, educational institutions and environmental agencies in designing awareness programmes for coastal communities.