Publication trends in South Korean research on particulate matter and health effects during two decades (2000-2019)

Ambient particulate matter is a serious risk factor for health outcomes associated with various diseases, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. South Korea is one of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries with the highest concentration of ambient particulate matter. The purpose of this study is to identify the status of research on particulate matter and associated health effects in South Korea through bibliometric methods. Scientific articles related to particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) and their effects on health published during the last two decades (2000-2019) were retrieved using the Scopus database. The total number of publications on PM₁₀ and health effects was 518, and 197 publications were authored on PM_2.5 and health effects. This number has increased substantially in the last 3 years. The institution and the country that contributed the highest number of publications to ambient particulate matter research were the Seoul National University and the United States, respectively. Publications on the effects of ambient particulates on children, the elderly, or pregnant women accounted for less than 30% of all retrieved publications. Publications on nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxide (SO₂), or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) accounted for approximately 30% and 20% of health effects-associated publications retrieved from Scopus concerning PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 research, respectively. Analysis of author keywords showed that mortality, respiratory diseases, cardiovascular disease, and oxidative stress were main research topics on particulate matter and health effects. Our study provides information that can be used to grasp research trends and not covered research topics on health effects of particulate matter in Korea.