Integrative Ecotoxicology of Pharmaceuticals and Nanoplastics: A PRISMA-Guided Bibliometric Review Linking Ecosystem and Environmental Health

Abstract

Background: Ecotoxicology increasingly faces complex mixtures and multilevel responses that single-compound, single-species assays cannot capture. Aim and objectives: To synthesize recent evidence (2022-2024) on integrative ecotoxicology (combining biomarkers, omics, computational models, and bioindicators) with emphasis on pharmaceuticals and nanoplastics, and to outline gaps and a practical framework for research and policy. Methods: A PRISMA-guided search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Springer Link (2022-2024). Duplicates were removed in Mendeley; screening used Rayyan with PICO-style inclusion/exclusion. The qualitative synthesis was complemented by bibliometric mapping (VOSviewer) to visualize thematic co-occurrences. Results: Fifty-two articles met criteria. Across aquatic and terrestrial models, integrative designs consistently revealed sublethal effects (oxidative stress, AChE inhibition, dysregulated apoptosis, teratogenicity) and molecular pathway disruption identified by transcriptomics/proteomics/metabolomics. Computational approaches (Bayesian networks; multivariate models) improved risk prioritization. Case studies showed synergism (e.g., nanoplastics-diclofenac) and highlighted soil interfaces (biochar-mediated metal speciation; earthworm biomarkers). Conclusions: Integrative ecotoxicology strengthens causal inference across biological levels and supports One Health and regulatory decision-making. Priority needs include standardized multi-level designs, mixture-aware endpoints, cross-matrix comparability (wáter-sediment-soil), FAIR data pipelines, and translation to policies (e.g., effluent standards, product stewardship). A concise research framework for policy formulation is proposed that links problem formulation, mixture-aware testing, omics-based pathways, and decision analysis.

Keywords

integrative ecotoxicology / contaminants / environmental health / omics technologies

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