The Elsevier journal Chemosphere, which recently published a widely publicized study on toxic flame retardants in black plastic household items, has been removed from Clarivate’s Web of Science index following concerns about editorial quality. The decision was part of Clarivate’s December update, impacting the journal’s visibility and citation metrics.
The Study and Its Controversy
The study, “From e-waste to living space: Flame retardants contaminating household items add to concern about plastic recycling,” sparked global media attention by raising concerns over the safety of black plastic cooking utensils. A corrigendum issued on December 15 corrected a calculation error, clarifying that exposure to the toxic substances was significantly lower than initially reported. Despite the correction, the authors maintained that the study’s conclusions remained valid.
Clarivate’s Decision
Clarivate removed Chemosphere from its index on December 16, citing failure to meet editorial quality criteria. This follows a reevaluation period during which the journal was “on hold.” Removal means:
- Papers from the journal will no longer be indexed in Web of Science.
- Citations to its articles will not be counted in impact factor calculations.
- The journal loses its impact factor, potentially affecting authors’ academic assessments.
Editorial Challenges and Retractions
The journal has faced growing scrutiny, retracting eight articles and issuing 60 expressions of concern since April. Allegations include:
- Unusual authorship changes.
- Manipulated peer-review processes.
- Undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Publisher’s Response
Elsevier has launched an investigation into potential breaches of Chemosphere‘s publishing policies. The publisher pledged to address concerns transparently and responsibly, including corrective measures such as article retractions and policy updates. They are also cooperating with Clarivate for reevaluation.
Implications for Authors
The removal from Web of Science may negatively impact authors who rely on indexed publications for career advancements, such as tenure and promotions, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of a journal’s editorial lapses.
Original Story Link: Retraction Watch