Bibliometric review maps research priorities for nanoplastics in drinking water

A bibliometric analysis of 239 articles found rapid growth in research on nanoplastics in drinking water, but a marked imbalance toward environmental pollution and toxicology rather than analytical methods, treatment and distribution systems. The study, described in the abstract of an open-access review published on 6 October 2026, examined publications indexed in the Web of Science from 2018 through April 2026.

The review reports that existing research is concentrated in journals categorized within the first and second quartiles. China, the United States and Canada were identified as the leading contributors to the analyzed literature. It also detected a shift in research attention from microplastics toward nanoplastics, which the authors associated with advances in understanding fragmentation processes and environmental impacts.

The analysis identifies drinking water as a research area that needs greater attention. The abstract says future work should prioritize development of effective removal technologies, reductions in nanoplastic release within drinking-water distribution systems, and reliable analytical methods suitable for routine monitoring. These are recommendations for future research, rather than evidence that particular treatment or monitoring approaches are already effective.

For policy, the authors call for legislative frameworks that define monitoring protocols, limit values and risk-assessment strategies for nanoplastics in drinking water. The abstract states that standardized regulations are currently absent and frames their development as an urgent need. Because the supplied evidence consists only of the article’s abstract and publication page, the analysis does not permit assessment of the full methods, search strategy beyond the Web of Science database and stated period, classifications of individual papers or the robustness of the findings. The page also states that the early-access version remains subject to further edits and will be replaced by the final version of record.

Subject of Research: Bibliometric analysis of nanoplastics research in drinking water

Article Title: Bibliometric analysis of nanoplastics in drinking water and policy implications

Article References: Praus, P. (2026). Bibliometric analysis of nanoplastics in drinking water and policy implications. Discover Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-026-04938-4

Image Credits: AI Generated

DOI: 10.1007/s43621-026-04938-4

Keywords: nanoplastics, drinking water, bibliometric analysis, research priorities, water treatment, analytical methods, distribution systems, environmental pollution, toxicology, water policy, Bibliometric, analysis