Wastewater-Based Epidemiology: Evidence Mapping Toward Identifying Emerging Areas of Research Publisher



Aghaei M^{1, 2} ; Yunesian M^{1, 3} ; Janjani H¹ ; Dehghani MH^{1, 4}
Source: Wastewater-Based Epidemiology for the Assessment of Human Exposure to Environmental Pollutants Published:2023

Abstract

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a helpful tool for the consumption of or exposure to chemicals or pathogens at the community level. Recently, this approach has generated considerable research interest. This study investigated the trends in WBE studies worldwide, identifying active countries, applications, and emerging areas. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched until May 21, 2021. A total of 242 original articles were included for analysis based on inclusion criteria. The USA, Australia, and China were the top countries, corresponding with almost one-third of the publications in this field. The results showed that in recent years, WBE has been used not only for drugs but also for estimating exposure to chemicals, including pesticides, personal care products, and plasticizers. Data provided in this study enable scholars to identify the emerging area and can be a valuable resource for gaining insights on the WBE studies in the world for continuing this approach. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.