Bioaccumulation of PS-NPs in the human body: students' spontaneous thinking for structuring an Initial Student Model

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Preimpresión, 23(1), marzo de 2026
Fundamentals and current research lines
1106
Published: 21-01-2026

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Abstract

Currently, plastics are widely used due to their numerous and useful properties. However, despite these advantages, increased plastic use has led toa surge in solid waste polluting the environment. This research aimed to describe the characteristics of high school students' spontaneous thinking regarding the scientifically and educationally relevant natural phenomenon of polystyrene nanoplastic bioaccumulation in the human body, and to use it for the design of solid and effective didactic sequences. Thirty third-year high school students participated, and data collection and analysis followed various stages up to describing an Initial Student Model. Ontologically, students' responses lacked descriptions of entities with well-defined properties—particularly biological ones—that establish relationships, cause effects, and explain the phenomenon with relevance and specificity. Consequently, their inferences were generic and offered little justification for potential long-term effects.

Keywords

Didactics of chemistry Google Schoolar
bioaccumulation Google Schoolar
nanoplastics Google Schoolar
spontaneous reasoning Google Schoolar
initial student model Google Schoolar

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Supporting Agencies  

El presente trabajo fue realizado con apoyo de la Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais - FAPEMIG (processo APQ-05218-23)

How to Cite

Bossolani-Kiill, K., Pereira, C. M., & López-Mota, Ángel D. (2026). Bioaccumulation of PS-NPs in the human body: students’ spontaneous thinking for structuring an Initial Student Model. Revista Eureka Sobre Enseñanza Y Divulgación De Las Ciencias, 23(1), 1106. Retrieved from https://revistas.uca.es/index.php/eureka/article/view/11825

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