We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Exploring Environmental Nanoplastics Research: Networks and Evolutionary Trends
AI summary Read the abstract
This bibliometric study explored environmental nanoplastics research networks and evolutionary trends, revealing rapid growth in the field with increasing focus on toxicity mechanisms, detection methods, and ecological impacts of nanoscale plastic particles.
Abstract Analyzing scientific advances and networks in NPs research can provide valuable insights into the evolving trends, research gaps, and priorities for future research efforts, highlighting the importance of scientific research in pollution control and risk management of uncontrolled and unknown nanoplastics (NPs) that pose a potential global threat, and have raised concerns in the scientific community and media. A total of 2055 nanoplastics (NPs) studies published from 1995 onwards were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Bibliometric methods were applied to assess evolving scientific advances and networks. The general term, “nanoplastics,” was first introduced in 1995 as “intelligent” materials. Before 2009, defined as the ambiguous stage, NPs were produced and applied in many different manufacturing areas and processes. The first research referring to nano-scale plastic particles/debris as potential hazardous contaminants appeared in 2010. Thereafter, the number of annual publications on NPs has increased rapidly, particularly from 2018 onwards. Results showed China published 822 scientific papers, overtaking the United States’ 229 papers, whereas European researches, i.e., the Netherlands, Portugal, German, and the United Kingdom, led in quality and citation with extensive international collaborations. Furthermore, we concluded three main research themes from keyword cluster analysis: environmental monitoring (identification, quantification, fresh-water, marine-environment); environmental behaviors (fate, adsorption, aggregation, transport); and toxicology (toxicity, exposure, ingestion, oxidative stress). Toxicology and environmental behaviors of NPs were the leading themes. An overview of the current understanding of NPs in the above three major themes provides perspectives to identify future research directions based on knowledge gaps, e.g., advancing analytical methods, and exploring the mobility and fate of NPs in different ecosystems. Scientific research on NPs is a key fundamental requirement for their pollution control and risk management. To bridge the gap between research and reality, future efforts are required to promote the dissemination of scientific research findings and encourage actions in engineering, policy, education, etc., to support a sustainable society. Graphical Abstract
More Papers Like This
Bibliometric Analysis of Micro/Nanoplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
This chapter presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of micro- and nanoplastic pollution research using data from the Scopus database, finding a consistent upward trend in publication volume with the majority focused on marine environments. Thematic network analysis identified key research clusters around sources, distribution, ecological damage, and detection methods, confirming that the field is globally distributed rather than geographically concentrated.
Micro(nano)plastics as Emerging Pollutants in Global Aquatic and Terrestrial Ecosystems: A Bibliometric Analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
This bibliometric analysis mapped the global landscape of micro- and nanoplastic research in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems using data from major scientific databases. Researchers identified key research trends, leading countries, and the most active institutions contributing to the field. The study reveals that while research output has surged in recent years, significant knowledge gaps remain around nanoplastics and their long-term ecological effects.
Bibliometric analysis of microplastics research: Advances and future directions (2020–2024)
AI summary Read the abstract
This bibliometric study analyzed trends in microplastics research from 2020 to 2024, finding a rapid increase in publications with growing specialization in areas like ecotoxicology, detection methods, and pollution control. Key research hotspots include microplastic effects on human health, interactions with other pollutants, and removal technologies. The analysis reveals that while the field is maturing rapidly, significant gaps remain in understanding real-world health impacts and developing effective remediation strategies.
From nanoplastic to microplastic: A bibliometric analysis on the presence of plastic particles in the environment
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers performed a bibliometric analysis of 3,820 publications on nanoplastics and microplastics from Web of Science, finding substantial growth in publications since 2009 with the USA and China as top contributors, while identifying gaps in standardized methodology and definitions that complicate cross-study comparisons.
A global bibliometric analysis of research on microplastics from 2004 to 2020
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a global bibliometric analysis of microplastic research from 2004 to 2020, tracing the exponential growth in publications and identifying research clusters around topics like marine contamination, ecotoxicology, and analytical methods. The analysis maps how the field has developed and highlights areas where research is still limited, such as terrestrial ecosystems and human health effects.
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.