Microplastic (MP) contamination has become a widespread environmental concern in coastal and freshwater wetlands, ecosystems that play a crucial role in hydrological regulation, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity conservation. Despite their ecological importance, research on MPs in wetlands remains fragmented and comparatively underexplored. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric and visualization analysis of global research on MPs in coastal wetlands. A total of 17,523 publications were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (2002–2025) using predefined search strings and screening criteria. Analytical tools, including VOSviewer version 1.6.20, were employed to examine co-authorship networks, country contributions, and keyword co-occurrence patterns. The results indicate a significant increase in MP-related publications after 2016, with China, the United States, and India emerging as leading contributors. However, wetland-specific studies constitute only a small fraction compared to marine-focused MP research, highlighting a substantial research gap. Key research themes identified include MP sources, transport pathways, sediment–water interactions, and ecotoxicological impacts. Additionally, there is growing attention to remediation approaches, particularly those involving TiO2, ZnO, Fe3O4, and graphene derivatives, employing photocatalytic, magnetic, and adsorptive mechanisms. Overall, the findings underscore the limited focus on wetland ecosystems in MP research and emphasize the urgent need for integrated research efforts and management strategies to address MP contamination in these vulnerable ecosystems.
Subhamgi et al. (2026) studied this question.