Bibliometric Profile of Global Microplastics Research from 2004 to 2019

Fen Qin, Jing Du, Jian Gao, Guiying Liu, Yonggang Song, Aifu Yang, Hong Wang, Yuan Ding and Qian Wang
Additional contact information
Fen Qin: Dalian University of Technology Library, 2# Linggong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116024, China
Jing Du: Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50# Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116023, China
Jian Gao: Dalian University of Technology Library, 2# Linggong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116024, China
Guiying Liu: Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50# Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116023, China
Yonggang Song: Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, 50# Heishijiao Road, Shahekou District, Dalian 116023, China
Aifu Yang: Technology Center of Dalian Customs District, 60# Changjiang East Road, Zhongshan District, Dalian 116001, China
Hong Wang: Dalian University of Technology Library, 2# Linggong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116024, China
Yuan Ding: Dalian University of Technology Library, 2# Linggong Road, Ganjingzi District, Dalian 116024, China
Qian Wang: Ocean University of China, 238# Songling Road, Laoshan District, Qiangdao 266100, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-15

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) have generated worldwide attention due to their global distribution in the environment, and their potential harmful effects on human and animal health. To analyze MPs-related scientific publications from a global point of view, we created a bibliometric profile, by searching the Web of Science Core Collection database for the topic “microplastic* or (micro near/1 plastic*)”, in publications dated from 2004 to 2019. The results revealed an increasing trend in publication output, and identified contributions of different countries and their collaborations, as well as influential authors and productive journals in the field of MPs research. Using co-citation network analysis in VOSviewer, we mined cited references for knowledge bases about analytical methods, potential sources and spatial distributions of MPs, the impacts of MPs on organisms, and the interaction of MPs with contaminants, as well as microorganisms. We also identified four global hotspots for MPs related research, using author keywords co-occurrence network analysis of all extracted publications, as well as Essential Science Indicators highly cited papers from Clarivate Analytics. Results of this study provide a valuable reference for ongoing MPs-related research, which may be of intrigue and awesome noteworthiness for relevant researchers.

Keywords: microplastics; bibliometric; network analysis; VOSviewer software; research hotspots (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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