Journal rankings · indicator year 2020
Choose a field to open its ranking, or a journal to find its row in its subfield’s list.
Subfield ranking · 2020
Pollution journal rankings 2020
61 ranked journals · Subfield in Environmental Science
Pollution has 61 ranked journals in 2020. The median journal has an OJR of 0.83, below the world average of 1.00, unchanged on 2019; Q1 starts at OJR 1.78. The top three are Trends in Environmental Analytical Chemistry, Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, and Water Research.
Ranks and citation indicators: 2020. Journal access status and listed APC: source snapshot September 23, 2026.
Journals whose main subfield sits in this category and that published at least 30 citable documents (articles, reviews and conference papers) in 2017–2019, the window the 2020 score is computed on.
The OpenJournalRank Indicator (OJR) is a free, publicly available metric of a journal’s field-normalized citation impact, computed from open OpenAlex citation data. It compares citations to a journal’s papers from the previous three years with the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type, so 1.00 is the world average and values can be compared across fields. It is computed with the NCI3 method.
The middle OJR among ranked journals in this category: half score higher, half lower. 1.00 is the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type.
The dot is this category, the solid tick is the median of all ranked journals and the dashed line is the world average.
Share of ranked journals in this category that are fully open access, so every paper is free to read. Hybrid journals, which sell subscriptions and open single papers for a fee, are not counted.
Median list price of the article processing charge, in US dollars, among ranked journals in this category that list a price above zero. Journals with a listed APC of $0 and journals with no known price are left out of this median. The At a glance table below gives a second median that includes the $0 prices.
Subfields of Environmental Science (11)
61 ranked journals
Filters
Rank is the position by OJR within the list on screen; 1 is the highest. | OJR is field-normalized 3-year citation impact: 1.00 is the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type, so values compare across fields. The badge is the journal’s quartile in this list. | Citations per paper over a two-year window, counted from OpenAlex. It is not field-normalized, so compare it only between journals of the same field. ▲ or ▼ is the change from 2019. This is OpenJournalRank’s own count, not Clarivate’s Journal Impact Factor. | Citable documents (articles, reviews and conference papers) published in 2017–2019, the window the 2020 OJR is computed on. A journal needs at least 30 to be ranked. | Share of the journal’s 2017–2019 papers that are free to read in any open-access form. The green OA tag next to a title marks a fully open-access journal. | List price of the article processing charge in US dollars. “$0 listed” means the listed price is zero; a dash means no price is listed. | The line is the journal’s OJR from 2011 to 2020. | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1Trends in Environmental Analytical ChemistryElsevier BV · Netherlands | 3.48Q1 | 9.40 0.58 up from 2019 | 37 | 30% | $4,430 | ||
2Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and TechnologyTaylor & Francis · United States | 3.40Q1 | 11.66 0.75 up from 2019 | 191 | 32% | — | ||
3Water ResearchElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 3.20Q1 | 11.76 1.20 up from 2019 | 2,740 | 33% | $4,660 | ||
4Water Research XOAElsevier BV · Netherlands | 3.11Q1 | 10.67 7.22 up from 2019 | 33 | 100% | $3,943 | ||
5Emerging contaminantsOAKeAi · Netherlands | 2.85Q1 | 5.00 9.25 down from 2019 | 61 | 100% | $1,100 | ||
6Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/TechnologySpringer Science+Business Media · Netherlands | 2.66Q1 | 9.70 3.39 up from 2019 | 104 | 26% | $5,190 | ||
7Journal of Hazardous MaterialsElsevier BV · Netherlands | 2.57Q1 | 10.15 1.04 up from 2019 | 3,607 | 14% | $4,340 | ||
8Journal of Environmental ManagementElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 2.46Q1 | 7.71 1.22 up from 2019 | 3,853 | 27% | $3,750 | ||
9The Science of The Total EnvironmentElsevier BV · Netherlands | 2.39Q1 | 8.47 1.30 up from 2019 | 14,523 | 32% | $4,250 | ||
10Environmental PollutionElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 2.33Q1 | 8.75 1.03 up from 2019 | 4,486 | 23% | $4,090 | ||
11Environmental Chemistry LettersSpringer Science+Business Media · Germany | 2.24Q1 | 9.79 3.87 up from 2019 | 345 | 26% | $3,190 | ||
12Bioresource TechnologyElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 2.21Q1 | 9.91 0.86 up from 2019 | 5,073 | 16% | $4,880 | ||
13Environmental Sciences EuropeOASpringer Science+Business Media · Germany | 2.05Q1 | 7.51 0.37 up from 2019 | 172 | 100% | $3,290 | ||
14Current Pollution ReportsSpringer Science+Business Media · Switzerland | 1.99Q1 | 6.82 2.74 up from 2019 | 85 | 17% | $4,990 | ||
15ChemosphereElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 1.90Q1 | 7.35 0.91 up from 2019 | 7,076 | 19% | $4,010 | ||
16Environmental Technology & InnovationOAElsevier BV · Netherlands | 1.78Q1 | 6.59 2.19 up from 2019 | 351 | 11% | $2,930 | ||
17Aquatic ToxicologyElsevier BV · Netherlands | 1.57Q2 | 5.40 0.57 up from 2019 | 789 | 36% | $3,320 | ||
18Marine Pollution BulletinElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 1.56Q2 | 6.57 1.78 up from 2019 | 2,508 | 26% | $3,740 | ||
19Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for sustainable developmentElsevier BV · Netherlands | 1.56Q2 | 6.44 1.87 up from 2019 | 267 | 33% | $2,750 | ||
20International Biodeterioration & BiodegradationElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 1.33Q2 | 4.72 0.34 up from 2019 | 636 | 19% | $3,870 | ||
21Frontiers of Environmental Science & EngineeringHigher Education Press · China | 1.33Q2 | 6.27 1.52 up from 2019 | 309 | 16% | $2,490 | ||
22Development EngineeringElsevier BV · United Kingdom | 1.28Q2 | 3.00 0.50 up from 2019 | 34 | 100% | $2,220 | ||
23EnvironmentsOAMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute · Switzerland | 1.26Q2 | 3.40 0.61 up from 2019 | 350 | 100% | $2,172 | ||
24Energy Sustainability and SocietyOASpringer Nature · Germany | 1.25Q2 | 4.01 1.14 up from 2019 | 130 | 100% | $2,190 | ||
25Integrated Environmental Assessment and ManagementWiley · United States | 1.15Q2 | 2.22 0.42 down from 2019 | 315 | 40% | $3,500 | ||
26Environmental Geochemistry and HealthSpringer Science+Business Media · Netherlands | 1.12Q2 | 4.16 0.65 up from 2019 | 569 | 17% | $2,590 | ||
27Journal of Environmental Health Science and EngineeringSpringer International Publishing · United Kingdom | 1.02Q2 | 3.02 0.43 down from 2019 | 163 | 100% | $3,890 | ||
28Environmental Monitoring and AssessmentSpringer Science+Business Media · Netherlands | 0.97Q2 | 3.06 0.54 up from 2019 | 2,224 | 17% | $2,790 | ||
29Chemical Speciation and BioavailabilityOATaylor & Francis · United Kingdom | 0.97Q2 | 4.33 1.65 up from 2019 | 35 | 100% | $1,270 | ||
30BiodegradationSpringer Science+Business Media · Netherlands | 0.95Q2 | 4.47 1.30 up from 2019 | 112 | 30% | $3,590 | ||
31Water Air & Soil PollutionSpringer Science+Business Media · Netherlands | 0.83Q2 | 3.07 0.66 up from 2019 | 1,127 | 13% | $3,890 | ||
32Current Opinion in Environmental Science & HealthElsevier BV · Netherlands | 0.75Q3 | 7.41 0.17 down from 2019 | 149 | 31% | $3,700 | ||
33Journal of Renewable EnergyHindawi Publishing Corporation · United Kingdom | 0.70Q3 | 1.83 0.43 down from 2019 | 35 | 100% | $820 | ||
34Environmental Pollutants and BioavailabilityOATaylor & Francis · United Kingdom | 0.66Q3 | 2.05 2.05 up from 2019 | 38 | 100% | $1,200 | ||
35Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and ToxicologySpringer Science+Business Media · United States | 0.65Q3 | 2.45 0.58 up from 2019 | 772 | 9% | $3,990 | ||
36Bioremediation JournalTaylor & Francis · United States | 0.63Q3 | 2.23 0.20 up from 2019 | 59 | 4% | — | ||
37Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part APublisher not listed | 0.62Q3 | 2.22 0.04 up from 2019 | 437 | 4% | — | ||
38Water Environment ResearchWiley · United States | 0.58Q3 | 2.36 1.15 up from 2019 | 551 | 26% | $3,240 | ||
39Chemistry and EcologyTaylor & Francis · United States | 0.57Q3 | 2.24 0.50 up from 2019 | 196 | 3% | — | ||
40Toxicological & Environmental Chemistry ReviewsTaylor & Francis · Netherlands | 0.57Q3 | 1.60 0.54 up from 2019 | 152 | 18% | — | ||
41CLEAN - Soil Air WaterWiley · Germany | 0.51Q3 | 1.68 0.01 down from 2019 | 288 | 24% | $4,220 | ||
42Environmental Engineering ScienceMary Ann Liebert, Inc. · United States | 0.50Q3 | 1.96 0.57 up from 2019 | 456 | 10% | — | ||
43Soil and Sediment Contamination An International JournalTaylor & Francis · United States | 0.50Q3 | 2.10 0.72 up from 2019 | 153 | 6% | — | ||
44Environmental Quality ManagementWiley · United States | 0.45Q3 | 1.20 0.26 up from 2019 | 162 | 16% | $3,300 | ||
45Spanish Journal of Soil ScienceOAUniversia · Switzerland | 0.45Q3 | 1.27 0.59 up from 2019 | 52 | 94% | $1,413 | ||
46PollutionOAPublisher not listed | 0.43Q3 | 1.48 0.23 up from 2019 | 148 | 100% | — | ||
47Environmental Health Engineering and ManagementOAKerman Medical University · Iran | 0.43Q4 | 1.63 0.73 up from 2019 | 91 | 100% | — | ||
48Journal of Energy in Southern AfricaOAUniversity of Cape Town · South Africa | 0.40Q4 | 1.08 0.10 down from 2019 | 136 | 100% | $271 | ||
49American Journal of Environmental SciencesOAUnited Arab Emirates | 0.40Q4 | 0.70 0.07 up from 2019 | 81 | 100% | — | ||
50Journal of Environmental Science and TechnologyOAPakistan | 0.39Q4 | 0.55no change | 172 | 100% | — |
Subfields of Environmental Science, with Pollution highlighted.
- Ecology276
- Global and Planetary Change218
- Water Science and Technology101
- Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis86
- Pollution61
- Nature and Landscape Conservation56
- Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law48
- Environmental Engineering43
- Waste Management and Disposal21
- Environmental Chemistry9
- Ecological Modeling7
Journals
Citations made in 2020. Corpus-wide, 86.1% of core-journal articles and reviews published that year have at least one matched reference; the share varies by journal and field.
13 additional Pollution journals with metrics are unranked under this release’s eligibility rules: a journal needs at least 30 citable documents in 2017–2019, at least 80% of them with a subfield, and a positive world-average expectation. Ranks are within the whole category; filters hide rows without re-ranking. OJR excludes self-citations.
At a glance
Indicator year: 2020. Publication window: 2017–2019. How these summaries are calculated
- Ranked journals
- 61
- Window papers (baseline)
- 43,429 +18.2% from indicator year 2017
- Median OJR
- 0.834 -8.3% from indicator year 2017
- Rising journals (2025)
- 5
Window papers are the baseline paper population: citable papers (articles, reviews and conference papers) from 2017–2019 in all journals of the world-average baseline, including non-core journals, counted by each paper’s own subfield. They are not the papers of the ranked journals alone.
| Measure | Year series | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranked journals | 28 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 35 | 35 | 39 | 41 | 42 | 44 | 47 | 48 | 51 | 53 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 61 | 58 | 61 | 67 | 69 | 67 | |
| Window papers (baseline) | 11,570 | 12,501 | 12,964 | 14,045 | 14,764 | 16,051 | 17,166 | 18,647 | 20,488 | 22,398 | 24,122 | 25,933 | 27,933 | 30,140 | 32,685 | 34,957 | 36,086 | 36,732 | 37,609 | 39,899 | 43,429 | 49,249 | 56,189 | 62,921 | 68,045 | 73,512 | |
| Median OJR | 0.785 | 0.843 | 0.89 | 0.96 | 0.855 | 0.864 | 0.945 | 0.933 | 0.921 | 0.789 | 0.90 | 1.01 | 0.878 | 0.917 | 0.919 | 0.875 | 0.87 | 0.909 | 0.78 | 0.831 | 0.834 | 0.839 | 0.935 | 0.911 | 0.927 | 1.04 |
How to read these rankings
- OJR, the OpenJournalRank Indicator
- A field-normalized 3-year citation impact, computed from OpenAlex with the NCI3 method. It divides the citations a journal’s papers received by the world average for papers of the same subfield, year and type, so 1.00 is the world average and 2.00 means twice as many citations as expected. Because it is normalized, it can be compared across fields. Read the methodology
- Quartiles
- Q1 to Q4 split the ranked journals of the list you are viewing into four equal groups by OJR. A journal’s quartile depends on the list: the same journal can be Q1 in its subfield and Q2 among all journals.
- Impact factor (2-year)
- Citations per paper over a two-year window, counted from OpenAlex. It is easy to compare with familiar impact factors but is not field-normalized, so compare it only within a field. It is not Clarivate’s Journal Impact Factor. Why it differs from the Journal Impact Factor
- Rank ranges
- Each rank in the latest year carries a likely range from 1,000 resamples of the journal’s papers. Where two journals’ ranges overlap, the data cannot tell them apart, so treat neighbouring ranks as ties.