Neuropsychological Effects of Air Pollution on Children and Adolescents (0–18 Years): A Global Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

In recent years, increasing attention has been paid to the impact of air pollution on the neuropsychological development of children and adolescents. However, a comprehensive overview of global research trends and thematic structures in this field remains lacking. This study applies bibliometric methods to systematically analyze 1441 English-language publications from 2000 to 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus. Using CiteSpace 6.4.R1, VOSviewer 1.6.20, and RStudio Bibliometrix (RStudio version: 2025.05.1+496, R version: 4.5.0, Bibliometrix package version: 5.0.0), we conducted a multidimensional visualization of publication trends, contributing countries and institutions, interdisciplinary integration, author collaborations, and keyword clustering. Results show a marked increase in research output in recent years, with the United States, China, and Spain leading in publication number and international collaboration. Key research themes include particulate pollution, prenatal and early-life exposure, and neuropsychological disorders such as attention-deficit hyperactivity and autism, alongside mechanisms like oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. This study builds a knowledge framework for the field, offering insights for scholars and evidence-based guidance for policymakers to support interventions that protect the neuropsychological health of the younger population.