Microplastic research trends in the Gulf region from a global perspective

作者：Ahmad Shabib, Mir Amir Mohammad Reshadi, Munjed A. Maraqa, Fereidoun Rezanezhad · 发表于：Frontiers in Environmental Science · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.3389/fenvs.2024.1474125 · 被引用次数：6 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques、Municipal Solid Waste Management

Introduction Microplastic (MP) pollution research has experienced significant global growth, with an exponential increase in publications since 2015. Despite this surge, research focused on the Gulf region remains limited. This gap is particularly concerning given the Gulf's dense industrial activities and substantial waste production. This study provides the first bibliometric analysis of MP research globally and within the Gulf region, examining the current state and emerging trends while identifying specific topics for future studies. Methods A bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024 was conducted for global and Gulf region research. Bibliometric analysis employed several tools to identify trends, keyword networks, and research gaps, with manual refinement of keywords to enhance accuracy. The study also analyzed leading countries and institutions contributing to MP research. Results and Discussion The analysis highlights significant global contributions, with China emerging as a leader in MP research globally and Iran playing a prominent role within the Gulf region. While global publications have increased exponentially since 2015, the Gulf region's research output remains underrepresented, accounting for only about 1.1% of global publications. This underscores the need for enhanced regional research to better integrate the Gulf into the global discourse on MPs. Keyword analysis reveals that certain areas of MP research remain unexpl...