Assessing potential risks of exposure to nanomaterials on human health – A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

Background: Due to quick development of nanotechnology, nanomaterials are now widely used in a variety of field, such as consumer goods, electronics, and medicine. Nonetheless, worries about their possible health hazards have surfaced, calling for a through comprehension of their effects on human health. The aim of the following research is to evaluate the state of research on nanomaterials and human health exposure by determining which health consequences are anticipated in the future and by examining the interlinkage between these two key concepts. Methods: VOSviewer was used to perform a bibliographic analysis, taking into account 3007 papers, in order to accomplish the aim of this research. The information was obtained on the 16th of October 2024 from Scopus database. Bibliometric analysis used co-occurrence analysis and keywords to show emerging and important topic areas. Therefore, it is a suitable approach to achieve the stated research aims. Results : The analysis revealed four different clusters, of which each represent a unique viewpoint on interlinkage. The main consequences of nanomaterial exposure on human health could be derived from different clusters, including widespread use in consumer product, medical applications, industrial applications, inhalation, dermal contact, lack of safety protocols in the laboratories, lack of awareness and environmental release of nanomaterials. Once released, they have the potential to contaminate soil, water, and air, which could expose humans indirectly through consuming contaminated resources. Conclusion: The results highlights the importance of continued research on the health implications of nanomaterials. Although there has been a progress in understanding their risks, more research is necessary to fill in the knowledge gaps and guide regulatory policies. Besides that, further risk assessments are necessary to identify possible risks, inform regulatory frameworks, and guarantee that the advantages of nanomaterials are realized without endangering environment or human health. Overall, to ensure that nanotechnology is developed and applied safely for the benefit of human health and the environment, cooperation between researchers, legislators, and industry stakeholders will be essential.