We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Global research trends, intellectual structure, and emerging frontiers in trace metal accumulation in marine organisms: a comprehensive analysis (1981–2026)
AI summary Read the abstract
This review analyzed nearly 3,000 studies on toxic metals building up in fish and shellfish, showing research has shifted from just monitoring pollution toward assessing actual health risks from eating seafood, like cancer risk and safe intake levels. It also highlights growing interest in how microplastics may interact with these metals, an area worth watching for future seafood safety guidance.
Trace metal accumulation in marine organisms remains a major environmental and public health concern because metals persist in marine ecosystems, transfer through food webs and may reach humans through seafood consumption. Although research in this field has expanded substantially, its long-term development, intellectual structure, collaboration patterns and emerging research fronts have not been comprehensively mapped. This study provides a field-wide bibliometric assessment of 3039 publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, covering the period from 1981 to 15 February 2026. VOSviewer was used to analyze publication growth, source-level bibliographic coupling, citation networks, international co-authorship, co-cited references and author-keyword co-occurrence. Scientific output increased markedly after the mid-2000s and accelerated after 2015, reaching 242 publications in 2022 and 240 in 2025. China was the most productive country, whereas the USA and France showed particularly strong international collaboration. Marine Pollution Bulletin was the leading source in publication output and citation influence, while Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Pollution and Environmental Science and Pollution Research occupied central positions in the journal network. Co-citation analysis identified foundational studies linking metal bioaccumulation, seafood contamination and human health risk assessment. Keyword and overlay analyses revealed a thematic shift from conventional monitoring of metals in fish, sediments and bivalves toward integrated assessments of seafood safety, dietary exposure and human-health risk, with cancer risk, hazard index and estimated daily intake becoming increasingly prominent. These findings emphasize the need for strengthened environmental monitoring, whereas microplastic–metal interactions, stable-isotope applications and climate-related effects were interpreted as complementary emerging directions for future research. By integrating productivity, intellectual structure, collaboration and thematic evolution, this study provides a systematic reference for future Marine Pollution Research, monitoring priorities and risk-oriented Environmental Management.
More Papers Like This
Unveiling microplastic contamination in seafood: Source, fate, analytical methods, health impacts, mitigation strategies and scientometric trends
AI summary Read the abstract
This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic contamination in seafood, covering sources, detection methods, health implications, and global research trends from 2011 to 2025. Researchers found significant gaps in toxicological studies and inconsistencies in detection methods across different regions. The study calls for standardized analytical approaches and more interdisciplinary research to better understand and mitigate the risks of consuming microplastic-contaminated seafood.
Seafood Toxicant Exposure During Pregnancy, Lactation, and Childhood and Child Outcomes: A Scoping Review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a scoping review of studies on toxicant exposure through seafood during pregnancy and childhood, finding that most research focuses on mercury while microplastics have received almost no study. This gap highlights the need for systematic research on how microplastic exposure through seafood affects fetal and child development.
Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of microplastics in marine organisms: A review and meta-analysis of current data
AI summary Read the abstract
This meta-analysis reviews current evidence on whether microplastics accumulate and concentrate as they move up the marine food chain. The findings have direct implications for seafood safety, since biomagnification would mean that larger predatory fish consumed by humans could contain higher concentrations of microplastics and their associated chemical additives.
A Review Notes on Role, Behavior, Risk Assessment Tools, and Adverse Outcomes of Metal and Microplastic Pollution in Benthic Sea Food Ecosystem
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers review the combined effects of metal and microplastic pollution on benthic seafood ecosystems, examining how these co-occurring contaminants affect the health of marine organisms and the humans who consume them, along with the risk assessment tools used to evaluate exposure and outcomes.
Interactions between microplastics (MPs) and trace/toxic metals in marine environments: implications and insights—a comprehensive review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how microplastics interact with trace and toxic metals in ocean environments, finding that plastic particles can adsorb metals onto their surfaces and alter how those metals move through marine ecosystems. These interactions can increase metal toxicity, reduce the availability of essential nutrients for marine life, and disrupt ocean food chains in ways that may ultimately affect seafood safety for humans.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.