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02_search_strategy
Summary
This component documents comprehensive database search strategies for identifying studies on combined microplastic and endocrine-disrupting pesticide exposure, using controlled vocabulary and Boolean operators across five major scientific databases. Transparent, reproducible search strategies are foundational to systematic reviews that will ultimately inform regulatory policy on the compounded health risks of microplastic-pesticide co-contamination.
Search strategies used to identify studies evaluating combined exposure to microplastics and pesticides with endocrine-disrupting potential. This component will include the full electronic search strategies for PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect databases. The strategies will follow PRISMA-S reporting guidelines and will incorporate both controlled vocabulary terms (e.g., MeSH and Emtree) and free-text keywords related to microplastics, pesticides, endocrine disruption, reproductive biomarkers, and bioaccumulation. The search strategies will be designed to maximize sensitivity while maintaining specificity for studies assessing environmental exposure and reproductive health outcomes. Boolean operators, truncation, and database-specific syntax will be applied as appropriate for each database. All search strategies will be documented in full to ensure transparency and reproducibility. The date of the final search and any updates will also be reported. In addition, the reference lists of relevant studies and review articles will be screened to identify additional eligible studies.