In 2025 and early 2026, Clarivate intensified quality monitoring across the Web of Science Core Collection. Several journals were delisted following editorial and citation integrity reviews. These decisions reflect stricter enforcement of indexing standards.
For researchers, institutions, and publishers, this signals a significant shift toward stronger research governance.
Major Journal Removal Confirmed
Science of the Total Environment Removed (Nov 2025)
Science of the Total Environment, a leading Q1 environmental science journal, was removed from the Web of Science Core Collection in November 2025.
The removal followed Clarivate’s editorial review process. Clarivate evaluates journals based on:
- Peer review integrity
- Editorial rigor
- Citation behavior
- Ethical publishing standards
Despite its long-standing reputation, the journal did not maintain required criteria during reassessment.
This action demonstrates that even high-impact journals are subject to compliance enforcement.
Previous Delistings
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine was previously delisted from Web of Science.
After delisting, the journal ceased Impact Factor tracking. This illustrates how removal can directly affect journal visibility and evaluation metrics.
Why Clarivate Removes Journals
Clarivate applies a structured journal evaluation framework under its Master Journal List.
Key Evaluation Criteria
Journals may be removed for:
- Weak or compromised peer review
- Citation manipulation or self-citation anomalies
- Editorial board inconsistencies
- Ethical misconduct patterns
- Scope deviation
- Publication irregularities
Clarivate conducts continuous monitoring, not one-time approval.
What This Means for Researchers
1. Reduced Discoverability
Articles published after removal are no longer indexed in WoS Core Collection.
This limits visibility in:
- Institutional searches
- Bibliometric reports
- Global citation tracking
2. Impact Factor Loss
When a journal is delisted, its Journal Impact Factor tracking stops.
Many institutions rely on Impact Factor during:
- Hiring decisions
- Promotion reviews
- Grant evaluations
3. Reputation Risk
Authors publishing in unstable journals face reputational uncertainty. This increases the importance of verifying indexing status before submission.
Trend Analysis — Strengthened Journal Oversight
Clarivate has increased journal monitoring since 2021.
Below is a conceptual visualization based on publicly reported removals and integrity enforcement announcements.
Broader Publishing Implications
The academic publishing ecosystem is evolving.
Global concerns include:
- Paper mills
- Citation cartels
- Predatory publishing models
- Peer review manipulation
Clarivate’s actions align with a broader push for:
- Transparency
- Data reliability
- Editorial accountability
- Reproducibility
This trend mirrors industry-wide efforts to safeguard research integrity.
How Researchers Should Respond
To protect your work:
✔ Verify indexing status in the Master Journal List
✔ Monitor Journal Citation Reports updates
✔ Check for editorial board stability
✔ Review publication ethics policies
✔ Avoid journals under investigation
Proactive due diligence reduces publication risk.
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References
- Clarivate Editorial Selection Process
- Master Journal List
- Science of the Total Environment (Wikipedia)
- Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Wikipedia)