A global analysis of microplastics research: Mapping strategic funding, national research capacity, scientific...

This study examines socioeconomic factors shaping global microplastics research via bibliometric analysis of 18,863 papers (2004-2024), economic data, and a 428-expert survey. It reveals a rapidly growing yet geographically and thematically disparate field, where research output correlates not with immediate pollution burden but with sustained national investment. China, with focused funding, leads at 26.73% of publications, while high-pollution, low-capacity regions in Southeast Asia and Africa are underrepresented, their national R&D spending often below the critical 0.5% of GDP threshold. The survey confirms this divides research focus: wealthier nations prioritize human health, cleanup technology, and advanced modeling, while poorer nations are often limited to basic monitoring. Experts collectively identified cleanup technology (28.90%) and human health effects (28.20%) as top future priorities. The study also flags key methodological barriers like absent standard procedures and poor exposure assessments, impeding reliable risk evaluation. In response, we propose a multi-tiered policy framework targeting the full plastic lifespan. Key proposals include sourcecentric rules (e.g., bans on intentionally added microplastics, extended producer responsibility), mandates for advanced wastewater treatment, and support for globally consistent monitoring techniques. The analysis demonstrates the current landscape is a product of deliberate policy and investment choices. Thus, bridging major knowledge and capacity gaps in the world's most affected and vulnerable regions is both an equity imperative and a prerequisite for developing effective, evidence-based, and globally coordinated solutions to the microplastics crisis.