Pesticides and non-essential metals in Amazonian aquatic organisms: A Scientometric Overview.

Abstract

This study aims to assess the scientific knowledge regarding the impact of pesticides and non-essential metals on freshwater aquatic organisms within the Amazon basin. The investigation encompasses a comprehensive analysis, including: i) temporal patterns; ii) methodological approaches; iii) keywords; iv) geographical distribution; v) academic institutions; vi) studied groups of aquatic organisms; and vii) specific environmental contexts investigated. It was used 203 publications in Web of Science and Scopus databases. A discernible ascending trajectory in publication frequency was observed over time, exhibiting a robust and statistically significant correlation with citation counts. The predominant disciplinary focus was discerned to be Environmental Science. Prevalent keywords encapsulated "Mercury," "Fish," "Amazon", "methylmercury" and "bioaccumulation". Noteworthy scholarly contributions emanated primarily from Brazil, with substantive collaboration of the United States, France, Canada and Bolivia. Among the foremost research entities were Brazilian institutions. Bioindicator selection exhibited a distinct predilection for fishes. The diverse spectrum of aquatic environments scrutinized included rivers, lakes, laboratory settings, and reservoirs. This scientometric analysis not only furnishes insights into the global trajectory of research on pesticides and non-essential metals within Amazonian aquatic ecosystems but also identifies prevailing methodologies, research lacunae, and prospects for future investigations within the Amazon basin.