Plastic pollution in water ecosystems: A bibliometric analysis from 2000 to 2020

Previous researchers have broadly studied plastic pollution in the water ecosystem worldwide, but the research topics development and performance trends in this study area are still insufficient and unclear. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to explore research trends regarding plastic pollution in the water ecosystem. Data of publications output was identified based on the Web of Science (WoS) database's research articles from 2000 to 2020. This study used VOSviewer to analyse collaboration networks among authors, countries, institutions, and co-occurrence analysis of keywords in three defined periods. A total of 2182 papers in plastic pollution in water ecosystem research were identified. The USA has been in a top position in plastic pollution in water ecosystem research moving from 2 output publications in 2000 to 68 output publications in 2020. Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) was ranked first in terms of the total publication output (105 publications, 4.81%). Most previous studies in Phase I (2000–2006) and Phase II (2007–2013) emphasise plastic pollution studies in marine environments compared to freshwater ecosystem-focused research. However, in Phase III (2014–2020), researchers more focused on plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems such as rivers, lakes, estuary and inland water. The valuable results obtained from this study can help scholars better understand the research development trends and research hotspots in the field of plastic pollution in the water ecosystem and provide direction for future research.