Public acceptance of policy interventions to control transport air pollution considering nanoparticles – A study in the UK

Ambient nanoparticles may be more harmful than PM2.5 and PM10 but currently they are not regulated. On the other hand, existing policy interventions to control PM2.5 and PM10 may not be effective enough to control nanoparticles. Therefore, there is a need to set regulations and implement policy interventions to control ambient nanoparticles emission especially from transport. However, currently there is no study on public acceptance of interventions considering nanoparticles, while such knowledge will be essential for the effective design and successful implementation of the interventions. This study thus aims to fill this research gap. An online survey was conducted in the UK (N = 482) to collect data on the general public’s environmental attitudes, moral norm, awareness of and concerns about nanoparticles, and attitudes and behavioural intentions towards different transport policy interventions. Using hierarchical clustering analysis, four distinct acceptance groups were identified: the Rejective Minority; the Resistant Car dependants; the Indecisive Car-dependants; and the Supportive Environmentalists. The groups’ socio-demographic and travel behavioural characteristics can help explain some of the differences in their acceptance but are not sufficient. Respondents’ comments further highlighted issues of (un)fairness, distrust of government, lack of public transport and forced car ownership, and the need for information campaigns on nanoparticles. Based on these findings, group-specific barriers and opportunities were discussed and interventions suggested.