Visual analysis of pesticide residue studies based on WOS bibliometrics

Pesticide residues not only affect the quality of agricultural products but also pose potential threats to human health. It holds significant theoretical and practical importance to conduct comprehensive and accurate analysis of research trends on pesticide residues and to explore their impact on agricultural product safety. In this study, CiteSpace bibliometric software was employed to conduct a visualization analysis of 24578 pesticide residue-related publications indexed in the Web of Science (WOS) core database from 2004 to 2024. Results indicate: 1) Publication volume in pesticide residue research has shown linear growth over the past two decades, reaching 2000 papers in the last three years and entering a high-quality leadership phase, with China ranking first in total publications (including collaborations). 2) Keyword prominence intensity exhibited varying degrees of change overall. Notably, “consumer risk assessment” achieved a prominence value of 69.92, indicating a high level of research interest in this area during specific periods. Current research hotspots primarily concentrate on the following aspects: ① In the field of detection technology, the multi-residue chromatography-mass spectrometry (MS) is widely applied, while non-destructive and rapid detection techniques are also rapidly advancing, leading to more efficient, accurate, and environmentally friendly detection methods. ② In terms of toxicological effects and risk assessment, the main focus is on the long-term low-dose exposure effects of pesticides, impacts on non-target organisms, combined pollution, and mixed toxicity mechanisms. Through continuous optimization of pesticide residue databases and risk assessment models, the potential risks of pesticide residues to the ecological environment and human health are systematically quantified, enhancing the reliability of risk assessments. ③ Regarding pesticide environmental behavior, the focus is on in-depth exploration of residual behaviors such as adsorption, degradation, and metabolism of pesticides in natural environments and agricultural products, which helps to reveal the fate and transformation mechanisms of various pesticides and to provide scientific foundations for risk assessment and pollution remediation. ④ For the regulatory system, efforts center on food safety and the promotion of global collaborative management through rigorous review and revision/establishment of maximum residue limit (MRL). 3) The trend of pesticide residue research have shifted from early traditional detection and pesticide-specific studies to mid-stage precise analysis and regulatory refinement, and then to the current focus on the development and application of rapid detection technologies, new materials and methods, and continuous deepening of risk assessment. Future development will continue toward safety, environmental protection, efficiency, and economy to better meet the regulatory and public needs.