Land pollution research: progress, challenges, and prospects

Abstract

This paper comprehensively searched all the literature on the subject of ‘land pollution’ through the core collection of the Web of Science database, and systematically processed the research literature from 1944 to 2021 using CiteSpace software, and carried out bibliometric analysis and visual presentation, which uncovers the LP research dynamics in detail, and draw the following conclusions: First, through the indicator of betweenness centrality, the basic authors and journals of the subject are obtained; from the perspective of publishing institutions and affiliated countries, the United States is an important research center for LP. Second, keywords such as ‘land use’, ‘air pollution’, ‘impact’, ‘soil pollution’ and ‘management’ are all high-frequency words. The results of keyword clustering and co-citation information in the literature indicate the natural-social dimensions of LP research, such as the use and quality of air, land, and water, as well as urbanization and environmental policies. However, challenges remain and current LP studies are still characterized by a certain degree of fragmentation, which should be enriched by combining land use changes and should require combining experimental results with socioeconomic analysis to propose joint LP remediation approaches. Finally, local and regional forces may strongly influence the LP process, and the drivers of globalization should be emphasized.