A bibliometric analysis of emerging contaminants (ECs) (2001−2021): Evolution of hotspots and research trends

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 907; p. 168116
• Main Authors: Yu, Yang, Wang, Siyu, Yu, Pingfeng, Wang, Dongsheng, Hu, Baolan, Zheng, Ping, Zhang, Meng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 10.01.2024
• Subjects: Bibliometric analysis; bisphenol A; diclofenac; drugs; Emerging contaminants; environment; evolution; Hotspot evolution; landscapes; microplastics; nanoparticles; Research stage; risk; Thematic network; titanium dioxide; traceability; Trend analysis; triazoles; triclosan; Research stage; Bibliometric analysis; Hotspot evolution; Emerging contaminants; Trend analysis; Thematic network
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168116

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have attracted increasing attention in the past two decades because of their ubiquitous existence and high environmental risk. Understanding the progress of research and the evolution of hot topics is critical. This study provides a bibliometric review, along with a quantitative trend analysis of approximately 8000 publication records dated from 2001 to 2021. Wider distribution in various subjects was discovered in terms of publication numbers, indicating a strong tendency for EC research to become an interdisciplinary topic. Visualization of term co-occurrence analysis revealed that the ECs study went through three stages over time: identification and detection, traceability and risk, and process and control. Quantitative trend analysis revealed that antibiotics, microplastics, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), per/poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pesticides, heavy metals, and nanoparticles are attracting increasing attention, whereas conventional pharmaceuticals, persistent organic pollutants, and materials such as benzotriazole, diclofenac, bisphenol A, carbamazepine, triclosan, and titanium dioxide exhibit a downward trend. PFAS and EDCs are considered potential future core hotspots for the hysteretic rise in research attention compared with conventional ECs. Furthermore, analysis of research linkage and the developing stages of ECs could be possible approach to determine the evolution of hotspots in ECs study. This study provides objective and comprehensive insights into the research landscape of ECs, which may shed light on future developmental directions for researchers interested in this field. [Display omitted] •A 20-year bibliometric analysis of ECs was conducted on roughly 8000 publications.•Three typical stages for the development of ECs studies were proposed.•Antibiotics, microplastics, EDCs, PFAS, etc. were revealed as trending-up ECs.•PFAS and EDCs might be near-term hotspots given hysteretic research interest rise.•Research linkage and developing stages were used to determine ECs hotspots evolution.