We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A bibliometric analysis of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments from 2013 to 2023
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed over 1,100 published studies on microplastic pollution in water from 2013 to 2023, finding that scientific output grew more than 140-fold over the decade with oceans receiving the most attention. China, the UK, Canada, and the US led global research output, and risk assessment and pollution monitoring emerged as the dominant research themes.
Abstract Plastics are extensively utilized in a variety of industries, including fisheries, agriculture, and commerce, due to their lightweight, corrosion resistance, versatility, and cost-effectiveness. From 2013 to 2023, the volume of research literature concerning microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments has surged, underscoring the growing concern over MP pollution. This study aims to identify research hotspots and trends regarding MPs in water environments through a bibliometric analysis of publications from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). During the study period, we screened a total of 1,141 articles related to MPs in aquatic environments. The number of articles rose dramatically from 2 in 2013 to 289 in 2023, indicating significant growth in this research area. Notably, 887 studies focused on marine waters, followed by rivers (397), wastewater (350), and lakes (176), suggesting that oceans are a primary hotspot for MPs research. In the past five years alone, 1,025 studies on MP pollution in water have been published, accounting for 89.8% of the total literature, highlighting widespread concern. The journals publishing the most articles on MPs include Marine Pollution Bulletin (253 articles) and Science of the Total Environment (190 articles). Analysis of total citations and publication counts reveals that China, the UK, Canada, and the USA are leading countries in this field. Institutions such as China’s Chinese Academy of Sciences and East China Normal University are particularly influential. Furthermore, the collaborative research between China and the USA, as well as between China and Australia, stands out. This paper quantitatively assesses global research trends and hotspots related to MP pollution, emphasizing key areas such as risk assessment, pollution surveys, and mitigation technologies. We also address critical scientific issues that need attention in the context of global water pollution, aiming to provide insights for monitoring mechanisms and future standards for MP control.
More Papers Like This
Bibliometric Insights into Microplastic Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
A bibliometric analysis of 885 documents on freshwater microplastic pollution published 2013–2023 found an average annual growth rate of 73%, with primary and secondary microplastics and their ecological consequences as dominant research themes, mostly published in environmental science journals.
Research Trends on The Presence of Microplastic Particles in The Environment and The Impact of Microplastics Around the World From 2010 - 2022: A Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
This literature review and bibliometric analysis maps global research trends on microplastic pollution and its environmental and health impacts from 2010 to 2022. Publication rates have increased dramatically over the period, with most research focused on marine and freshwater contamination. The study provides a useful overview of where microplastic science has grown and where gaps remain.
Global research hotspots and trends on microplastics: a bibliometric analysis
AI summary Read the abstract
A bibliometric analysis of microplastics publications from 1990 to 2022 found a 19-fold increase in publications and 35-fold increase in citations since 2015, with research clustering around distribution, toxicity, analytical methods, and adsorption of co-pollutants.
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.
ANALYSIS OF MICROPLASTIC RESEARCH IN SURFACE WATER BODIES
AI summary Read the abstract
This bibliometric analysis reviewed microplastic research in aquatic environments from 2011 to 2023 using data from Web of Science publications. The study found a major increase in publications and citations since 2018, with China overtaking the UK as the leading contributor. Current research trends focus on microplastic removal methods, particularly adsorption, and the study provides recommendations for future research directions in water-based microplastic monitoring.
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.