Scientific Knowledge Mapping and Thematic Evolution for Tire Wear Particles

Abstract

In recent years, with the continuous increase of car ownership per capita, tire wear particles (TWPs) from road tire wear have been widely detected in various environmental media, and their environmental behavior and influence have attracted wide attention. Using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) as a literature search platform, we mapped the research progress of TWPs from publication trends, international cooperation, journal distribution, interdisciplinary areas, and research themes with scientific knowledge mapping methods. Publications in the TWP field have shown an increase year by year, with great contributions from researchers in the USA and Europe, but the efforts and progress of Chinese researchers cannot be ignored. Science of the Total Environment was the most active journal in this field, with 54 relevant articles published. The research area of TWPs was multidisciplinary in nature, with a focus on Environmental Science, Atmospheric Meteorology Science, and Environmental Engineering. The research topics were mainly composed of three thematic groups: suspended particulate matter, air pollution sources, and microplastics in the environment, and research hotspots shifted from particulate matter to microplastics over time. Future research needs to focus on the origin, properties, and transport and dispersion of TWPs in water, atmosphere, and soil environments and to analyze the environmental impacts and ecological risks.