Bibliometrics and visualization analysis regarding research on the development of microplastics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecotoxicology
• Materials Science

Background:

• Microplastics pose significant environmental and human health risks due to their persistence and adsorption capabilities.
• Research on microplastics has surged in recent years, generating substantial scientific literature.
• Understanding the scope and trends in microplastic research is crucial for addressing these threats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the research progress and identify hotspots in microplastic studies.
• To provide a quantitative overview of the scientific literature on microplastics.
• To offer directional guidance for future microplastic research.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of scientific publications on microplastics.
• Utilization of VOSviewer software for research visualization.
• Identification of trends, highly cited references, and emerging research areas.

Main Results:

• A significant exponential increase in microplastic literature from 2009 to 2019 (R² = 0.9873).
• Top cited research focuses on microplastic ingestion by zooplankton, presence in bivalves, and occurrence in surface waters.
• Current cutting-edge research includes adsorption, biodegradation, ingestion/accumulation modeling, and toxicity analysis.

Conclusions:

• The field of microplastic research is expanding rapidly, indicating growing scientific concern.
• Future research hotspots are predicted to involve integrated removal strategies, combining constructed wetlands, biotechnology, and photocatalysis.
• This study offers a valuable overview and strategic direction for researchers in the microplastic domain.