AccScience Publishing / EJMO / Online First / DOI: 10.36922/EJMO026050050
ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE

The global research landscape and frontiers of endocrine-disrupting chemicals-induced vascular toxicity: A bibliometric and visualization analysis

Tengyao Kang1,2 Fuzhao Zhang2 Jianghua Zheng2 Xi Yong2* Nurul Azira Ismail1*
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1 School of Graduate Studies, Post Graduate Centre, Management and Science University, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
2 Department of Vascular Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, China
Received: 27 January 2026 | Revised: 22 April 2026 | Accepted: 23 April 2026 | Published online: 22 May 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )
Abstract

Introduction: Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have attracted increasing attention as potential contributors to vascular toxicity.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize the global research landscape, knowledge structure, and emerging trends in this field.

Methods: A total of 911 publications indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded of the Web of Science Core Collection from 1997 to 2025 were analyzed using bibliometric and visualization methods to map collaboration patterns and knowledge evolution.

Results: The United States leads in both publication output and citation impact. Knowledge mapping indicates that an “exposure–mechanism–endpoint” framework is widely adopted in the literature, with “oxidative stress” appearing as a highly connected keyword linking environmental exposures and vascular outcomes. Trend analysis further suggests a shift in research focus from traditional persistent organic pollutants to emerging contaminants associated with modern lifestyles, alongside an increasing focus on early-life exposures and susceptible populations.

Conclusion: Research on EDC-related vascular toxicity is evolving toward greater emphasis on emerging contaminants, critical exposure windows, and mechanistic exploration. These trends may help inform future research directions and risk assessment strategies.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals
Vascular toxicity
Oxidative stress
Endothelial dysfunction
Atherosclerosis
Bibliometric analysis
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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