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A Bibliometric Review and Knowledge Mapping of Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Cardiovascular Research
Summary
Scientists are increasingly finding tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) in human blood and heart tissue, and this study reviewed the growing body of research—not new experiments—to map out what scientists have learned so far and where the field is headed. The research is shifting from basic lab studies toward investigating real-world health effects, like inflammation and links to heart disease, but scientists still need larger, long-term human studies to confirm whether these plastics actually cause cardiovascular problems. In short: the concern is real enough that research is ramping up fast, but we don't yet have definitive proof of harm—just growing scient
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) have been detected in human blood and cardiovascular tissues, raising concerns about their potential role in cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the overall research landscape-including knowledge structure, collaboration networks, and evolving trends-remains poorly characterized. This study aims to map the field using bibliometric analysis. Publications from 2017 to 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analyses (publication trends, country/institution collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence and clustering, co-citation networks, and burst detection) were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica. A total of 390 publications were analyzed. Annual publication output has grown exponentially since 2022. China, the United States, and Italy are the core contributing countries. Research hotspots center on inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and pollutant exposure. The frontier has shifted from fundamental toxicology toward nanoplastics and specific polymers (e.g., polystyrene) in CVD, as well as their association with clinical outcomes. Emerging foci include cardio-renal comorbidity. To our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric study to systematically map the MNP-CVD research field. The field is moving from mechanistic exploration toward clinical epidemiological research. Future priorities include interdisciplinary collaboration, standardized detection methods, large-scale prospective cohort studies, and mechanism-based targeted interventions. Bibliometric data reflect publication patterns, not causal evidence.