Trends in environmental and toxicity research on organic ultraviolet filters: A scientometric review

Megan Carve; Graeme Allinson; Dayanthi Nugegoda; Jeff Shimeta

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145628

Trends in environmental and toxicity research on organic ultraviolet filters: A scientometric review

Sci Total Environ. 2021 Jun 15:773:145628. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145628. Epub 2021 Feb 5.

Authors

Megan Carve¹, Graeme Allinson², Dayanthi Nugegoda³, Jeff Shimeta²

Affiliations

¹ Ecotoxicology Research Group, School of Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia. Electronic address: megan.carve@rmit.edu.au.
² Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation (EnSuRe), School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
³ Ecotoxicology Research Group, School of Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia; Aquatic Environmental Stress Research Group (AQUEST), School of Science, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, 3078, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 33940738
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145628

Abstract

In recent decades, the potential toxicological and environmental effects of organic ultraviolet filters (OUVF) have received growing attention. The number of studies in this area has increased; however, presently there is no scientometric perspective addressing this topic. The purpose of this study is to identify the intellectual base and research front using the visualization and analysis software, CiteSpace. We retrieved 453 articles, published in print or online as an early-access article between 2002 and 2020, from the Web of Science with a topic search related to OUVFs, environment, and toxicology. We then analysed synthesized networks of co-authorship (author, institution, country), co-citation (author, document, journal) and co-occurring keywords. The annual publication output has trended upwards since 2002. Authors based in China accounted for 29.4% of the total publications, followed by USA (17.4%); but overall publications from Switzerland and Spain were more influential. Major research themes identified included OUVF concentrations in aquatic environments, and hormonal effects. Emerging themes included improving the sensitivity of analytical detection methods for both OUVFs and their metabolites, consequences of OUVF transport to the marine environment, and concerns over prenatal exposure. Based on keyword analysis, benzophenone-3, 4-methylbenzylidene-camphor, 3-benzylidene camphor, and ethylhexyl-methoxycinnamate are the most studied OUVFs, and effects on estrogenic activity, gene expression, reproduction, and more recently, oxidative stress, have received most attention from a toxicological perspective. Other prominent topics were sources of environmental contamination and ecological risk assessments. This study maps the major research domains of OUVF environmental toxicology research; explanations and implications of the findings are discussed; and emerging trends highlighted.

Keywords: Benzophenone; Bibliometrics; Emerging pollutant; Sunscreen; UV filter; UV light stabilizer.

Publication types

Review