Scientific Knowledge Mapping and Thematic Evolution for Tire Wear Particles

In recent years, with the continuous increase of car ownership per capita, tire wear particles (TWPs) from road tire wear have been widely detected in various environmental media, and their environmental behavior and influence have attracted wide attention. Using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) as a literature search platform, we mapped the research progress of TWPs from publication trends, international cooperation, journal distribution, interdisciplinary areas, and research themes with scientific knowledge mapping methods. Publications in the TWP field have shown an increase year by year, with great contributions from researchers in the USA and Europe, but the efforts and progress of Chinese researchers cannot be ignored. Science of the Total Environment was the most active journal in this field, with 54 relevant articles published. The research area of TWPs was multidisciplinary in nature, with a focus on Environmental Science, Atmospheric Meteorology Science, and Environmental Engineering. The research topics were mainly composed of three thematic groups: suspended particulate matter, air pollution sources, and microplastics in the environment, and research hotspots shifted from particulate matter to microplastics over time. Future research needs to focus on the origin, properties, and transport and dispersion of TWPs in water, atmosphere, and soil environments and to analyze the environmental impacts and ecological risks.

Automated summary

In recent years, there has been growing attention towards the environmental behavior and influence of tire wear particles (TWPs) due to the increase in car ownership. Through a literature search on the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC), the research progress of TWPs was mapped from various perspectives. The number of publications in the TWP field has been increasing every year, with significant contributions from researchers in the USA and Europe, as well as from Chinese researchers. The most active journal in this field was Science of the Total Environment, with 54 relevant articles published. The research on TWPs was found to be interdisciplinary, primarily focused on Environmental Science, Atmospheric Meteorology Science, and Environmental Engineering. The research topics were mainly centered around suspended particulate matter, air pollution sources, and microplastics in the environment, with a shift in research hotspots from particulate matter to microplastics over time. Future research should focus on the origin, properties, transport and dispersion of TWPs in water, atmosphere, and soil environments, as well as analyze the environmental impacts and ecological risks.