Cadmium toxicity in aquatic organisms: A scientometric review (Part 2—photosynthetic organisms)

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic and bioaccumulative heavy metal widely detected in aquatic environments due to anthropogenic activities. This study presents a scientometric analysis of Cd toxicity in photosynthetic aquatic organisms, as part of a complementary two-part review based on a single comprehensive dataset of aquatic organisms. Publications indexed in the Web of Science from 1945 to 2024 were analyzed using bibliometric tools and manual data extraction. A total of 7,198 records were identified, of which 4,052 were retained, including 704 studies focused on photosynthetic aquatic organisms. The results indicate continuous growth in research output, with a predominance of laboratory-based studies. Algae and angiosperms were the most frequently studied groups, with species such as Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Lemna minor being widely used as model organisms. The most frequently evaluated biological and ecotoxicological parameters were related to bioaccumulation and growth, particularly algal proliferation. Overall, this study highlights key research trends and gaps, emphasizing the need for future studies to adopt environmentally relevant exposure conditions and develop efficient remediation strategies to mitigate Cd's impacts on aquatic ecosystems.