With some regularity, scientific databases review and exclude journals. Recently, the leading and well-known chemical journal Chemosphere, which is published by Elsevier, was deprived of indexing in Web of Science. Why was this decision made?
The scientific journal Chemosphere
Chemosphere is an international scientific journal that specializes in publishing original research on chemicals and compounds in the environment.
The journal covers subject areas and sections such as:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment and Environmental Toxicology
- Treatment and Rehabilitation.
Problems with publishing in the journal Chemosphere
Problems with publication in the journal became apparent in 2024. According to Retraction Watch, concerned statements began appearing online as early as March 2024, covering both articles in specialized and regular issues of Chemosphere.
In May, it was noted that a comment of concern had been added to more than 60 articles published in Chemosphere. In December of the same year, 8 articles were withdrawn. The reasons given varied, including unusual changes in authorship of articles before publication and potential manipulation of citations.
More recently, the journal found itself at the center of a scandal over the publication of a study in September 2024 that focused on high levels of flame retardants in black plastic utensils. It caused widespread media outcry. On December 15, the authors of the scientific paper released a correction in which they acknowledged an error in the assessment of the health effects of flame retardants. It turned out that this effect was actually well below the safe daily reference dose, rather than approaching it, as previously stated.
Decision to remove Chemosphere from Web of Science
On December 12, 2024, the publication issued a statement saying that a "thorough investigation" had been conducted into the disputed articles and was taking "decisive action" to ensure academic integrity, in particular by withdrawing articles and making public statements of concern.
On December 16, Clarivate decided to remove the journal Chemosphere, which had an impact factor of 8.1 in 2023, from the Web of Science index due to non-compliance with editorial quality requirements.
This exclusion has significant implications for the journal and its authors, as it may affect the quantitative measures of their publications, which are often used to make employment, career development and promotion decisions. In addition, publications that have been de-indexed from prominent databases have problems attracting new authors.
How to choose a scientific journal to publish a scientific article?
Choosing a scientific journal is not an easy task, because you need to analyze many indicators. Responsible selection of a scientific journal ensures the visibility of your research, promotes your work, and increases your visibility and influence in the international scientific community.
As practice shows, even the most well-known and prestigious scientific journals can be excluded from international databases for various reasons, such as changes in editorial policy, unfair fulfillment of publication requirements or other factors affecting their reputation. This emphasizes the importance of a cautious and careful approach to selecting a publication for publishing one's research papers. You should carefully evaluate its reliability, indexing and reputation in the scientific community. Choosing the right journal affects not only the visibility of your work, but also your career prospects, as the exclusion of a journal from the database reduces your academic performance, in particular your Hirsch index.
Scientific Publications constantly monitors updates to international databases and, thanks to years of experience, can make predictions about which journals are likely to be excluded in the near future.
If you need help in choosing a journal for publishing a scientific article, contact Scientific Publications. Our experts will help you choose a scientific publication that meets your needs and requirements, as well as advise you on the design of your work in accordance with the requirements of the journal. Together for a successful publication!
