The Elsevier-published journal Science of the Total Environment has retracted 28 research papers in August 2026.
On November 18 2025, the journal’s coverage in the Web of Science Core Collection was formally discontinued.
An important point is the retracted papers are not necessarily newly published papers.
Several of the retracted studies were originally published between 2018 and 2023, while their retraction notices were issued in August 2026.
For example, Effect of dissolved organic carbon from sludge, Rice straw and spent coffee ground biochar on the mobility of arsenic in soil was originally published in 2018 and received a retraction notice on August 7, 2026.
Multiple Papers Retracted in August 2026
The retraction records include papers published several years before the notices were issued. For example, the following articles were retracted in late August 2026:
| Research Article | Original Publication | Retraction Date |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy metal dissolution mechanisms from electrical industrial sludge | 2019 | August 28, 2026 |
| Effect of biochar addition on the dynamics of antibiotic resistant bacteria during the pig manure composting | 2021 | August 27, 2026 |
| Effects of different biofuels and their mixtures with diesel fuel on diesel engine performance and exhausts | 2023 | August 27, 2026 |
| Biochar-induced metal immobilization and soil biogeochemical process: An integrated mechanistic approach | 2019 | August 26, 2026 |
| PM emissions – assessment of combustion energy transfer with Schizochytrium sp. algal biodiesel and blends in IC engine | 2021 | August 26, 2026 |
| Ginger extract ameliorates bisphenol A (BPA)-induced disruption in thyroid hormones synthesis and metabolism | 2019 | August 25, 2026 |
| A comprehensive review of lignocellulosic biomass derived materials for water/oil separation | 2023 | August 22, 2026 |
| Pyrolytic and hydrothermal carbonization affect the transformation of phosphorus fractions in the biochar and hydrochar… | 2023 | August 20, 2026 |
Why Were the Papers Retracted?
The records show that the reasons vary from paper to paper. Some of the August 2026 notices cite:
- Concerns about authorship or affiliations
- Conflicts of interest
- Compromised or manipulated peer review
- Rogue editor concerns
- Unreliable results and/or conclusions
- Image-related concerns
- Concerns about the article itself
- Investigations by the journal or publisher
- Investigations by third parties
- Objections raised by authors
Journal Details
Science of the Total Environment is an interdisciplinary environmental science journal published by Elsevier.
| Journal Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Journal Title | Science of the Total Environment |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| ISSN | 0048-9697, 1879-1026 |
| Subject Area | Environmental Science and related disciplines |
| Web of Science Status | Coverage discontinued |
| Previous Web of Science Category | Science Citation Index Expanded |
| Previous Quartile | Q1 |
| Previous Impact Factor | 8.0 |