Assessing Health Risks Associated with Heavy Metals in Food: A Bibliometric Analysis

Bibliometric analysis is an effective method used to identify research trends based on historical publications that involves combining different frameworks, tools and methods, leading to the creation of different metrics. This study employed bibliometric analysis to investigate the global health risk assessment of heavy metals in food from 2000 to 2022 using Web of Science and VOSviewer. We explore publication trends, affiliations, countries, journals, citations, keywords and author collaborations. Of the 573 publications on this topic, there has been a notable increase in recent years. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (China) and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Iran) are the most prolific affiliations. Environmental Science and Pollution Research is the top journal. Notably, heavy metals, risk assessment, cadmium, lead, and trace elements are frequently used keywords. A study by Miraglia et al. in 2009 received the most citations. Amin Mousavi Khaneghah (Poland) is the most prolific author, with 24 papers. Articles mainly focus on contamination levels in fish, seafood, cereals, dairy, meat, and fruit/vegetables. Some studies highlight potential risks, necessitating stricter food product controls for consumer safety.

Automated summary

Bibliometric analysis was employed in this study to investigate the global health risk assessment of heavy metals in food from 2000 to 2022. The study identified an increasing trend in research publications in recent years, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (China) and Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Iran) being the most prolific affiliations. The top journal in this field is Environmental Science and Pollution Research, and the most cited study was conducted by Miraglia et al. in 2009. The study also highlighted the frequent use of keywords such as heavy metals, risk assessment, cadmium, lead, and trace elements.