Micropollutants in wastewater treatment plants: A bibliometric - bibliographic study

The increasing global chemical consumption has led to widespread environmental degradation with micropollutants, sparking deep concerns for both aquatic life and human health. These contaminants, encompassing a range of hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances, can negatively impact the environment at very low concentrations. This investigation, covering literature from 2000 to 2023 extracted from the Scopus database and analyzed using the 'bibliometrix' tool in R, aims to augment our understanding and highlight progress in remediation strategies. Through data visualization with 'biblioshiny' and 'VOSviewer', we observed an increased research interest in the destiny of micropollutants within Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs). The research underscores notable improvements in treatment methods that promise greater efficiency in removing pollutants. It stresses the importance of continuous technological innovation, cross-sector collaboration, and global policy reforms to effectively tackle micropollutant challenges, leading to a cleaner environment and better health outcomes.