Mapping the research landscape on landfills and groundwater: a Scopus-based bibliometric review 2000–2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/bgeo-2026-0006Keywords
Landfill, groundwater, groundwater pollution, GIS, leachateAbstract
This Scopus-based bibliometric review maps research on landfill–groundwater interactions (2000–2024) to identify dominant themes, underexplored topics and methodological gaps that limit evidence-based groundwater protection near landfills. Using the query “landfill” AND “groundwater”, we extracted 601 records and analysed trends with Biblioshiny, MapChart and Excel. The analysis highlights the countries, institutions and keywords on which the literature concentrates. It shows a shift from standalone laboratory approaches toward integrated frameworks that combine hydrogeological monitoring, laboratory chemistry and GIS/remote-sensing support. These results provide a roadmap for future studies and for decision-makers by prioritising interdisciplinary research needs, including leachate–aquifer pathways, medium-sized cities and long-term monitoring strategies.
References
AHARONI I, DAHAN O and SIEBNER H, 2022, Continuous monitoring of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) transformations along the waste-vadose zone - groundwater path of an uncontrolled landfill, using multiple N-species isotopic analysis. Water Research 219: 118508. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2022.118508.
ALAGHEMANDI M, 2024, Sustainable solutions through innovative plastic waste recycling technologies. Sustainability 16: 10401. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310401.
BAGHERI M, BAZVAND A and EHTESHAMI M, 2017, Application of artificial intelligence for the management of landfill leachate penetration into groundwater, and assessment of its environmental impacts. Journal of Cleaner Production 149: 784–796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.157.
BENSON C, OBASI IC, AKINWANDE DV and ILE C, 2024, The impact of interventions on health, safety and environment in the process industry. Heliyon 10: e23604. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23604.
BERDYYEV A, AL-MASNAY YA, JULIEV M and ABUDUWAILI J, 2025, Bibliometric Analysis of Desertification in the Period from 1974 to 2024 Based on the Scopus Database. Land 14: 496. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030496.
BÜYÜKKIDIK S, 2022, A Bibliometric Analysis: A Tutorial for the Bibliometrix Package in R Using IRT Literature. Eğitimde Ve Psikolojide Ölçme Ve Değerlendirme Dergisi 13: 164–193. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21031/epod.1069307.
CHADALAVADA S, FAUST O, SALVI M, SEONI S, RAJ N, RAGHAVENDRA U, GUDIGAR A, BARUA PD, MOLINARI F and ACHARYA R, 2025, Application of artificial intelligence in air pollution monitoring and forecasting: A systematic review. Environmental Modelling & Software 185: 106312. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2024.106312.
CHADHA P, YADAV P, SHARMA M, SHARMA Y, NANGIA R, SHARMA K and MAKSUDOVNA VK, 2023, Global trends in waste materials: A bibliometric analysis. Materials Today: Proceedings: S2214785323049672. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2023.10.059.
CHEN DMC, BODIRSKY BL, KRUEGER T, MISHRA A and POPP A, 2020, The world’s growing municipal solid waste: trends and impacts. Environmental Research Letters 15: 074021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ab8659.
CHRISTENSON MD, KAMBHUA and COMFORT SD, 2012, Using slow-release permanganate candles to remove TCE from a low permeable aquifer at a former landfill. Chemosphere 89(6): 680-687. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2012.06.009.
EGHTESADIFARD M, AFKHAMI P and BAZYAR A, 2020, An integrated approach to the selection of municipal solid waste landfills through GIS, K-Means and multi-criteria decision analysis. Environmental Research 185: 109348. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109348.
EL NAQA A, 2004, Aquifer vulnerability assessment using the DRASTIC model at Russeifa landfill, northeast Jordan. Environmental Geology 47(1): 51-62. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1126-9.
EL-ZEIN A and ROWE RK, 2008, Impact on groundwater of concurrent leakage and diffusion of dichloromethane through geomembranes in landfill liners. Geosynthetics International 15(1): 55-71. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1680/gein.2008.15.1.55.
ERIKSEN S, SCHIPPER ELF, SCOVILLE-SIMONDS M, VINCENT K, ADAM HN, BROOKS N, HARDING B, KHATRI D, LENAERTS L, LIVERMAN D, MILLS-NOVOA M, MOSBERG M, MOVIK S, MUOK B, NIGHTINGALE A, OJHA H, SYGNA L, TAYLOR M, VOGEL C and WEST JJ, 2021, Adaptation interventions and their effect on vulnerability in developing countries: Help, hindrance or irrelevance? World Development 141: 105383. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105383.
FAYSHAL MA, 2024, Current practices of plastic waste management, environmental impacts, and potential alternatives for reducing pollution and improving management. Heliyon 10: e40838. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e40838.
GHOSH A, KUMAR S and DAS J, 2023, Impact of leachate and landfill gas on the ecosystem and health: Research trends and the way forward towards sustainability. Journal of Environmental Management 336: 117708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117708.
GRÖNWALL J and DANERT K, 2020, Regarding Groundwater and Drinking Water Access through A Human Rights Lens: Self-Supply as A Norm. Water 12: 419. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/w12020419.
GUNARATHNE V, PHILLIPS AJ, ZANOLETTI A, RAJAPAKSHA AU, VITHANAGE M, DI MARIA F, PIVATO A, KORZENIEWSKA E and BONTEMPI E, 2024, Environmental pitfalls and associated human health risks and ecological impacts from landfill leachate contaminants: Current evidence, recommended interventions and future directions. Science of the Total Environment 912: 169026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169026.
GUPTA A, VERMA A and RAJAMANI P, 2024, Impact of Landfill Leachate on Ground Water Quality: A Review. Springer Water. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-55513-8_6.
HAJAM YA, KUMAR R and KUMAR A, 2023, Environmental waste management strategies and vermi transformation for sustainable development. Environmental Challenges 13: 100747. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100747.
HAN Z, MA H, SHI G, HE L, WEI L and SHI Q, 2016, A review of groundwater contamination near municipal solid waste landfill sites in China. Science of the Total Environment 569: 1255-1264. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.201.
HAN Z, WANG S, ZHAO J, HU X, FEI Y and XU M, 2020, Identification of nitrogen-sources in an aquifer beneath a municipal solid waste landfill in the vicinity of multiple pollutant sources. Journal of Environmental Management 268: 110661. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110661.
HARUN SN, ALI RAHMAN Z and DAMANHURI NA, 2025, Impact of landfill leachate contamination on the geotechnical behavior of granitic sandy-clayey soil. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 22: 12423–12436. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-025-06622-y.
HEPBURN E, MADDEN C, SZABO D, COGGAN TL, CLARKE B and CURRELL M, 2019, Contamination of groundwater with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from legacy landfills in an urban re-development precinct. Environmental Pollution 248: 101-113. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2019.02.018.
HOSSAIN MA, FERDOUS N and FERDOUS E, 2024, Crisis-driven disruptions in global waste management: Impacts, challenges and policy responses amid COVID-19, Russia-Ukraine war, climate change, and colossal food waste. Environmental Challenges 14: 100807. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2023.100807.
HUNG Y-T, WANG LK and SHAMMAS NK, 2014, Handbook of Environment and Waste Management: Volume 2: Land and Groundwater Pollution Control. WORLD SCIENTIFIC. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/8699.
JULIEV M, KHOLMURODOVA M, ABDIKAIROV B and ABUDUWAILI J, 2024, A comprehensive review of soil erosion research in Central Asian countries (1993-2022) based on the Scopus database. Soil and Water Research 19(4): 244-256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.17221/82/2024-SWR.
JUMANIYAZOV I, JULIEV M, ORAZBAEV A and REIMOV T, 2023, Marginal lands: a review of papers from the Scopus database published in English for the period of 1979–2022. Soil Science Annual 74: 1–13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37501/soilsa/169657.
KALE SS, KADAM AK, KUMAR S and PAWAR NJ, 2010, Evaluating pollution potential of leachate from landfill site, from the Pune metropolitan city and its impact on shallow basaltic aquifers. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 162: 327–346. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0799-7.
KANNAZAROVA Z, JULIEV M, ABUDUWAILI J, MURATOV A and BEKCHANOV F, 2024a, Drainage in irrigated agriculture: Bibliometric analysis for the period of 2017–2021. Agricultural Water Management 305: 109118. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2024.109118.
KANNAZAROVA Z, JULIEV M, MURATOV A and ABUDUWAILI J, 2024b, Groundwater in the commonwealth of independent states: A bibliometric analysis of scopus-based papers from 1972 to 2023, emphasizing the significance of drainage. Groundwater for Sustainable Development 25: 101083. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsd.2024.101083.
KAZA S, YAO LC, BHADA-TATA P and VAN WOERDEN F, 2018, What a Waste 2.0: A Global Snapshot of Solid Waste Management to 2050. Washington, DC: World Bank. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1329-0.
KHASANOV S, JULIEV M, UZBEKOV U, ASLANOV I, AGZAMOVA I, NORMATOVA N, ISLAMOV S, GOZIEV G, KHODJAEVA S and HOLOV N, 2021, Landslides in Central Asia: a review of papers published in 2000–2020 with a particular focus on the importance of GIS and remote sensing techniques. GeoScape 15: 134–145. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/geosc-2021-0011.
KORSHUNOV AA and NEVZOROV AL, 2020, Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in Municipal Solid Waste Landfill nearby Small Settlements. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 459: 052057. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/459/5/052057.
KUHANESWARAN B, CHAMANEE G and KUMARA BTGS, 2025, A comprehensive review on the integration of geographic information systems and artificial intelligence for landfill site selection: A systematic mapping perspective. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 43: 137–159. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X241237100.
KURTALIQI F, LANCELOT MILTGEN C, VIGLIA G and PANTIN-SOHIER G, 2024, Using advanced mixed methods approaches: Combining PLS-SEM and qualitative studies. Journal of Business Research 172: 114464. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114464.
LAKHOUTI A, 2024, Mitigating landfill emissions strategies for effective waste management in tabuk. Cleaner Waste Systems 9: 100187. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clwas.2024.100187.
LAURETI L, COSTANTIELLO A, ANOBILE F, LEOGRANDE A and MAGAZZINO C, 2024, Waste Management and Innovation: Insights from Europe. Recycling 9: 82. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling9050082.
MISHRA S, TIWARY D, OHRI A and AGNIHOTRI AK, 2018, Assessment of groundwater quality using WQI and GIS near the Karsara municipal landfill site, Varanasi, India. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 11(11): 252. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3604-5.
MOHAMMADI SEIF ABAD P, PAZIRA E, MASIH ABADI MH and ABDINEZHAD P, 2021a, Application AHP-PROMETHEE Technic for Landfill Site Selection on Based Assessment of Aquifers Vulnerability to Pollution. Iranian Journal of Science and Technology, Transactions of Civil Engineering 45: 1011–1030. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-020-00560-0.
MOHAMMADI SEIF ABAD P, PAZIRA E, MASIH ABADI MH and ABDINEZHAD P, 2021b, Application AHP-PROMETHEE Technic for Landfill Site Selection on Based Assessment of Aquifers Vulnerability to Pollution. Iranian Journal of Science and Technology - Transactions of Civil Engineering 45(2), 1011-1030. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40996-020-00560-0.
MOR S and RAVINDRA K, 2023, Municipal solid waste landfills in lower- and middle-income countries: Environmental impacts, challenges and sustainable management practices. Process Safety and Environmental Protection 174: 510–530. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2023.04.014.
NAJAFI SALEH H, VALIPOOR S, ZAREI A, YOUSEFI M, BAGHAL ASGHARI F, MOHAMMADI AA, AMIRI F, GHALEHASKAR S and MOUSAVI KHANEGHAH A, 2020, Assessment of groundwater quality around municipal solid waste landfill by using Water Quality Index for groundwater resources and multivariate statistical technique: a case study of the landfill site, Qaem Shahr City, Iran. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 42(5): 1305-1319. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00417-0.
NISHMITHA PS, AKHILGHOSH KA, AISWRIYA VP, RAMESH A, MUTHUCHAMY M and MUTHUKUMAR A, 2025, Understanding emerging contaminants in water and wastewater: A comprehensive review on detection, impacts, and solutions. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 18: 100755. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hazadv.2025.100755.
NJEWA JB, MWETA G, SUMANI J and BISWICK TT, 2025, The impact of dumping sites on air, soil and water pollution in selected Southern African countries: challenges and recommendations. Water Emerging Contaminants & Nanoplastics 4(1). DOI: https://doi.org/10.20517/wecn.2024.71.
OMOTAYO AO, 2024, Investigating the drivers of solid waste generation and disposal: evidence from South Africa. Environment, Development and Sustainability 28(1): 671-703. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-024-04987-7.
PARVIN F and TAREQ SM, 2021, Impact of landfill leachate contamination on surface and groundwater of Bangladesh: a systematic review and possible public health risks assessment. Applied Water Science 11(6): 100. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-021-01431-3.
PREZIOSI E, FROLLINI E, ZOPPINI A, GHERGO S, MELITA M, PARRONE D, ROSSI D and AMALFITANO S, 2019a, Disentangling natural and anthropogenic impacts on groundwater by hydrogeochemical, isotopic and microbiological data: Hints from a municipal solid waste landfill. Waste Management 84: 245–255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.12.005.
PREZIOSI E, FROLLINI E, ZOPPINI A, GHERGO S, MELITA M, PARRONE D, ROSSI D and AMALFITANO S, 2019b, Disentangling natural and anthropogenic impacts on groundwater by hydrogeochemical, isotopic and microbiological data: Hints from a municipal solid waste landfill. Waste Management 84: 245-255. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2018.12.005.
RAD PR and FAZLALI A, 2020, Optimization of permeable reactive barrier dimensions and location in groundwater remediation contaminated by landfill pollution. Journal of Water Process Engineering 35: 101196. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2020.101196.
REED MS, FERRÉ M, MARTIN-ORTEGA J, BLANCHE R, LAWFORD-ROLFE R, DALLIMER M and HOLDEN J, 2021, Evaluating impact from research: A methodological framework. Research Policy 50: 104147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.104147.
SAFAROV R, SHOMANOVA Z, NOSSENKO Y, KOPISHEV E, BEXEITOVA Z and KAMATOV R, 2024, Spatial Analysis of Air Pollutants in an Industrial City Using GIS-Based Techniques: A Case Study of Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Sustainability 16: 7834. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177834.
SRIDHAR D and PARIMALARENGANAYAKI S, 2025, Review on urban groundwater pollution an Indian perspective: Sources, analysis, and management strategies. Desalination and Water Treatment 324: 101453. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101453.
SUMATHI VR, NATESAN U and SARKAR C, 2008, GIS-based approach for optimized siting of municipal solid waste landfill. Waste Management 28: 2146–2160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2007.09.032.
WANG F, SONG K, HE X, PENG Y, LIU D and LIU J, 2021, Identification of groundwater pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of a landfill in a low permeability area. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18(14): 7690. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147690.
WANG F, SONG K, LAN W, LI T, LIU J and LIU D, 2025, Identification and assessment of groundwater pollution from landfill leachate based on geophysical, spectroscopy, and hydrogeochemical methods. Scientific Reports 15: 25558. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11189-2.
WANG L, ZHU Z, XIE X and WU J, 2024, Research Progress and Hotspots on Disposal of Landfill Leachate: A Bibliometric Analysis Using Knowledge Mapping Method. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies 33: 2373–2381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/174783.
WEN P, LI X, SHI G, WANG Z and MA Z, 2025, Age and hydrogeological conditions of landfill site control groundwater pollution in landfill site. Waste Management 208: 115171. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2025.115171.
WILSON KS, KOOTBODIEN T, MADE F, MDLELENI S, TLOTLENG N, NTLEBI V and NAICKER N, 2022, Men and women waste pickers on landfills in Johannesburg, South Africa: divergence in health, and socioeconomic status. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 95: 351–363. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-021-01787-8.
YE J, CHEN X, CHEN C and BATE B, 2019a, Emerging sustainable technologies for remediation of soils and groundwater in a municipal solid waste landfill site -- A review. Chemosphere 227: 681–702. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.053.
ZENG J, TABELIN CB, GAO W, TANG L, LUO X, KE W, JIANG J and XUE S, 2023, Heterogeneous distributions of heavy metals in the soil-groundwater system empowers the knowledge of the pollution migration at a smelting site. Chemical Engineering Journal 454: 140307. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2022.140307.
ZHANG JING, ZHANG JIAN-MIN, XING B, LIU G and LIANG Y, 2021, Study on the effect of municipal solid landfills on groundwater by combining the models of variable leakage rate, leachate concentration, and contaminant solute transport. Journal of Environmental Management 292: 112815. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112815.
ZHANG Z, CHEN Z, ZHANG J, LIU Y, CHEN L, YANG M, OSMAN AI, FARGHALI M, LIU E, HASSAN D, IHARA I, LU K, ROONEY DW and YAP P-S, 2024, Municipal solid waste management challenges in developing regions: A comprehensive review and future perspectives for Asia and Africa. Science of the Total Environment 930: 172794. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172794.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sojidabonu Turdalieva, Mukhiddin Juliev, Zukhra Khadjieva, Zilolakhon Djanpulatova, Madinabonu Kholmurodova

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 22
Number of citations: 0