Air Pollution and Public Health Research in India: Mapping Themes, Trends and Knowledge Gaps

Abstract

Air pollution poses a significant threat to public health in India, contributing to rising cases of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. This study addresses this knowledge gap through a bibliometric analysis of 1816 publications retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases between 1990 and 2024. The time frame 1990–2024 was selected to capture the full evolution of India’s air-pollution and public-health research, beginning with the earliest indexed publications in major databases and extending through the most recent year with complete bibliometric records. Using mapping techniques implemented through Bibliometrix in RStudio, the study explores trends in publication output, leading contributors, collaboration networks, and thematic evolution. The major findings reveal a steady and substantial growth in scientific production, particularly after 2010, reflecting increased policy relevance and interdisciplinary engagement. Publication output has grown sharply from only 3 papers in 1990 to 232 in 2024, totalling 1,816 studies over the period 1990–2024 where 2112 and 563 data were retrieved from Scopus and Web of Science respectively. Scientific production is led overwhelmingly by India (1,695 publications), followed by the United States (646) and China (206), indicating strong national engagement and active international collaboration in air-pollution and public-health research. Thematic evolution indicates a clear intellectual progression from early environmental exploration to specialized, health-oriented, and risk-based studies. Recent years show a focus on indoor air pollution, mortality, and COVID-19-related research. The findings denote the integration of environmental science and public health, highlighting both maturity and diversification within the field. These implications arise directly from the bibliometric findings, which reveal fragmented collaboration networks, limited integration of indoor and outdoor pollution themes, and a growing shift toward data-intensive, health-oriented research; together, these patterns highlight the need for stronger interdisciplinary collaboration, integrated assessment approaches, and AI-driven analytical methods to effectively bridge the identified knowledge gaps and support evidence-based policymaking in India.