Emerging trends in silicosis research: a scientometric review

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Occupational Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Silicosis is a significant global occupational respiratory disease.
• Recent research emphasizes silicosis characteristics, but a visual analysis of research trends is lacking.
• Understanding research development is vital for effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scientometric review of silicosis research.
• To visually analyze the developmental laws and trends in silicosis literature.
• To identify key research areas, influential regions, and emerging epidemic sources.

Main Methods:

• Searched Web of Science Core Collection and All Databases for "silicosis" (9802 and 1613 publications).
• Utilized Web of Science scientometric analysis and CiteSpace for visual analysis.
• Methods included publication volume, co-occurrence, co-citation, cluster analysis, and burst detection.

Main Results:

• The "respiratory system" emerged as the most influential research area over the past century.
• Publication volume correlated with Gross Domestic Product; Europe, USA, and China lead research.
• Artificial stone and denim production linked to new silicosis epidemic trends; inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress are key pathogenesis mechanisms.

Conclusions:

• This review provides a visual landscape of silicosis research, highlighting its evolution and key drivers.
• Emerging trends in artificial stone and denim industries necessitate targeted prevention strategies.
• Continued research into pathogenesis, including inflammation and oxidative stress, is crucial for managing silicosis.