The Fall of Chemosphere: How Quality Concerns Sparked a Crisis in Academic Publishing

The article from Ars Technica discusses the removal of the journal Chemosphere from the Web of Science, a prominent academic index, due to significant quality concerns following a high-profile study on black plastics that has since been corrected. Clarivate, the publisher of Web of Science, took this action amid reports of multiple retractions and expressions of concern surrounding Chemosphere's recent publications, indicating potential issues with editorial standards. The journal's December 12 announcement outlined plans to enhance its editorial processes for better integrity and quality in future publications. The black plastic study, which raised alarms over toxic flame retardants in kitchen items, contributed to media hysteria and highlighted the importance of robust peer review.

Key Points:

• Chemosphere journal removed from Web of Science due to quality issues.
• Clarivate requires compliance with specific editorial quality criteria for indexing.
• The journal faced eight retractions and 60 expressions of concern recently.
• A correction was issued for a controversial study linking black plastics to toxic flame retardants.
• Chemosphere announced measures to improve editorial practices and integrity.
• The study generated significant media coverage and public panic regarding kitchen utensil safety.
  Link to Article