Abstract
This study analyzed the scientific output, collaboration networks, and thematic structure related to the contamination of marine, freshwater, and mixohaline crabs by heavy metals, aiming to identify research gaps, trends, and future directions. A total of 217 records were retrieved from the Web of Science database, of which 12 were excluded for being unrelated to the topic. The remaining 205 records were processed using VOSviewer and Bibliometrix, enabling the construction of co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence maps, and thematic visualizations. The results reveal a growing interest in this field due to its environmental and public health relevance. China, the United States, and Brazil lead in scientific production, with Brazil standing out as a key collaboration hub. Recurrent topics include bioaccumulation and cadmium, while emerging themes such as biomarkers and selenium are gaining prominence. Gaps remain in molecular integration, non-traditional species, and food safety, highlighting opportunities for further research.
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