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Trends, challenges, and research pathways in emerging contaminants: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis
Md Shahin Alam1, Farzaneh Tahriri2, Gang Chen1
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States.
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
|January 13, 2025
Summary
Research on emerging contaminants (ECs), like pharmaceuticals and microplastics, is rapidly increasing. This bibliometric analysis maps the global research landscape, identifying key trends and influential studies on EC pollution.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Chemical Engineering
- Bibliometrics
Background:
- Growing global concern over environmental pollution from diverse contaminants.
- Emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, nanomaterials, and microplastics pose risks due to persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity.
- Need for a comprehensive understanding of the EC research landscape.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a bibliometric analysis of emerging contaminant research.
- To map the research landscape, identify significant contributions, and pinpoint influential researchers and studies.
- To provide insights for future research directions and collaborations.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of 62,670 documents from Web of Science (January 2000 - May 2024).
- Utilized Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace for analyzing publication output, citations, and collaboration patterns.
- Keyword co-occurrence analysis to identify core research themes.
Main Results:
- Exponential growth in EC research, with publications rising from under 1,000 pre-2006 to nearly 7,000 by 2022.
- China and the United States lead in research output; Environmental Science & Technology is the most influential journal.
- Key themes include EC degradation, removal, and impact; collaboration networks highlight prominent researchers and institutions.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a comprehensive overview of EC research trends and key players.
- Highlights the critical need for continued research to address EC challenges.
- Emphasizes the importance of developing effective regulatory policies and remediation strategies for emerging contaminants.
Keywords:
bibliometric analysiscitation analysisemerging contaminantsenvironmental pollutionresearch trendMore Related Videos
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