Science of the Total Environment Journal Impact Factor: What Researchers Need to Know
If you've spent any time in environmental science research, you've almost certainly encountered Science of the Total Environment*. It's one of those journals that comes up again and again — in citation counts, in impact factor discussions, and in the strategic planning of researchers trying to figure out where to send their best work.
But here's what most people don't realize: understanding the impact factor of this journal is about more than just knowing a number. It's about understanding how the journal fits into the broader landscape of environmental publishing, what it means for your career, and whether it's the right target for your specific research.
Let's dig into it.
What Is Science of the Total Environment?
Science of the Total Environment* (STOTEN) is a multidisciplinary journal published by Elsevier that covers the entire field of environmental science. And I mean entire* — the journal publishes research spanning environmental chemistry, ecology, atmospheric science, soil science, water quality, waste management, and just about any intersection you can think of where human activity meets the natural world.
It launched in 1973, which makes it a relatively old journal by modern standards. That said, that longevity matters. Decades of publication history means accumulated citations, established readership, and a reputation that newer journals simply can't replicate overnight.
The journal's scope is broad by design. Unlike narrower specialty journals that focus on, say, just atmospheric chemistry or just toxicology, STOTEN positions itself as a home for research that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries. If your work examines how multiple environmental systems interact — which is increasingly how the most interesting science gets done — this journal tends to welcome it.
The Elsevier Connection
STOTEN operates under the Elsevier umbrella, which means it has access to significant publishing infrastructure: global distribution, solid indexing, and integration with platforms like Scopus and Web of Science. Now, whether you view that as a positive or negative often depends on your feelings about open-access models and traditional publishing. But in practical terms, it affects visibility and how easily researchers worldwide can access and cite your work.
Why the Impact Factor Matters (And Why It Doesn't Tell the Whole Story)
The impact factor for Science of the Total Environment sits comfortably in the 9-10 range in recent years, which places it among the top-tier environmental science journals globally. For context, that's higher than many well-known competitors, and it puts STOTEN in rarefied company.
But here's what you need to understand about impact factors generally: they're a measure of citation frequency, not quality per se. Plus, a journal can have a high impact factor because it publishes trendy topics that get cited frequently — not because every article in it is significant. Conversely, some genuinely important research appears in lower-impact journals because it's too specialized or ahead of its time to rack up citations quickly.
For researchers, the impact factor matters in several practical ways:
- Funding applications often use journal prestige as a shorthand for research quality
- Tenure and promotion committees frequently have impact factor thresholds
- Collaborators and peers notice where you publish, even if they shouldn't
That said, obsessing over impact factor at the expense of fit is a mistake. Publishing in the "right" journal for your specific audience — even a lower-impact one — often generates more meaningful engagement than chasing a high number.
How the Journal's Impact Factor Has Evolved
The trajectory of STOTEN's impact factor tells an interesting story. It has climbed steadily over the past decade, reflecting both the growing importance of environmental science as a field and the journal's strategic positioning.
What Drives Impact Factor Growth
Several factors contribute to why a journal's impact factor increases over time:
- Growing field relevance — Environmental science has exploded in visibility as climate change, pollution, and sustainability moved from niche concerns to mainstream policy issues. More research funding, more researchers, more citations.
- Strategic publishing decisions — Elsevier has invested in making STOTEN attractive to high-profile authors, including special issues dedicated to hot topics and faster review timelines where possible.
- Citation practices — Journal names that are easy to remember and commonly abbreviated (STOTEN) tend to get cited more often. Simple visibility advantages compound over time.
- International readership expansion — As research becomes more globalized, journals with strong international indexing reach wider audiences who cite them.
Recent Impact Factor Ranges
Based on available data, Science of the Total Environment's impact factor has ranged roughly as follows:
- 2020-2021: Approximately 7.9-8.0
- 2022-2023: Approximately 9.5-10.0
- Most recent years: Hovering in the 9-10+ range
These numbers fluctuate year to year based on citation calculations. The important takeaway isn't the specific decimal — it's that the journal has established itself firmly in the top tier of environmental science publishing.
How to Get Published in Science of the Total Environment
If you're targeting STOTEN for your research, understanding what the editors value can dramatically improve your chances. The journal receives a massive volume of submissions, and rejection rates are steep.
What Makes a Paper Stand Out
Based on patterns in published articles and editorial guidance, successful manuscripts tend to share several characteristics:
Interdisciplinary approaches rank highly. If your research bridges two or more environmental subfields — say, linking air quality measurements to health outcomes, or connecting soil chemistry to ecosystem function — you're in a sweet spot for this journal.
Broad relevance matters. Editors are looking for research that speaks to global environmental challenges rather than highly localized findings with limited generalizability. "We measured metal contamination at this one river" is less compelling than "we developed a framework for assessing metal contamination risk that applies across river systems."
Rigorous methodology is non-negotiable. STOTEN publishes across so many domains that peer reviewers are drawn from varied backgrounds. Your methods section needs to be airtight, because reviewers will scrutinize it through different disciplinary lenses.
Want to learn more? We recommend industrial and chemical engineering research impact factor and why does the atomic radius decrease across a period for further reading.
Clear environmental implications should be woven throughout the paper, not just relegated to the conclusion. Reviewers want to understand what your findings mean for environmental management, policy, or scientific understanding — not just for your specific dataset. Worth knowing.
Common Submission Pitfalls
Here are the mistakes that get papers rejected before peer review even happens:
- Scope mismatches — Submitting work that's too narrow or too far outside environmental science
- Poor English language quality — While the journal is international, manuscripts with significant language issues get returned immediately
- Inadequate novelty claims — If you can't articulate what new understanding your research provides, reviewers won't find it either
- Weak figures and tables — Visual presentation matters more than many authors realize
Common Misconceptions About Journal Impact Factors
Let me clear up a few things that I see researchers get wrong all the time.
"A higher impact factor means my paper will be more cited"
Not necessarily. A paper in a 3-impact journal that precisely addresses a question a specific community cares about might earn far more citations than a forgettable piece in a 10-impact journal. Practically speaking, citation patterns are idiosyncratic. Your target audience matters enormously.
"I should only submit to journals above a certain impact factor"
This one is seductive for career reasons but dangerous for science. Strategic publication decisions should account for audience, fit, and career stage. Early-career researchers sometimes chase high-impact publications at the expense of building a coherent research narrative across their portfolio.
"Impact factor is a stable, reliable metric"
It fluctuates annually based on calculation methods, citation windows, and journal policies (like whether to publish more papers or fewer). Don't make long-term strategic decisions based on a single year's number.
"Open-access journals can't have high impact factors"
This is simply outdated. Many open-access journals now compete with traditional journals in impact factor rankings, and the open-access model is becoming increasingly dominant in scientific publishing.
Practical Tips for Targeting Science of the Total Environment
If you've decided STOTEN is the right venue for
your work, here are some practical considerations.
Read recent papers in the journal — not just the abstracts, but full papers. Pay attention to how authors structure their introductions, what kind of data they present, and how they discuss implications. This gives you a concrete feel for the journal's voice and standards that no guide can fully capture.
Check the special issues — STOTEN frequently runs special issues on specific themes. If your work fits one, it can dramatically increase visibility and acceptance odds. That said, special issue papers often have stricter deadlines and may involve guest editors with specific expectations.
Prepare your submission carefully — Use the journal's template, follow formatting requirements exactly, and ensure all co-authors have approved the final version. Administrative rejections happen more often than you'd think, and many are entirely preventable.
Consider your cover letter strategically — This is your first (and sometimes only) chance to convince the editor your paper belongs. Highlight the novelty, the fit with the journal's scope, and the broader implications. Don't oversell, but don't undersell either.
When to Consider Predatory Alternatives
I need to address something uncomfortable but important: there are predatory publishers that mimic legitimate journals like STOTEN. They use similar-sounding names, fabricate editorial boards, and promise rapid publication with minimal peer review.
Red flags include:
- Unsolicited email invitations to submit
- Promises of unusually fast review times (days rather than months)
- Vague or hidden fees
- Editorial boards with unverifiable affiliations
- Journal names that are slight variations of established journals
Legitimate open-access journals exist and thrive — many have excellent impact factors and rigorous peer review. Now, the presence of predatory publishers doesn't mean open access is bad; it means you need to verify any journal before submitting. Check Beall's List (or its current maintained versions), consult your colleagues, and look for the journal's inclusion in recognized indexes like Scopus or Web of Science.
Building a Long-Term Publication Strategy
Rather than thinking of each submission as an isolated event, consider your publication portfolio as a whole. Also, where do you want your research to be read? Now, what conversations do you want to be part of? How does each paper contribute to a coherent body of work?
STOTEN makes sense for work that genuinely spans environmental compartments or disciplines. In real terms, for highly specialized work, more focused journals may serve you better. For work with policy urgency, journals with strong practitioner readerships may be ideal. The best target journal is the one where your work will find its most engaged and receptive audience.
Final Thoughts
Choosing where to submit your environmental science research is a meaningful decision that affects visibility, impact, and career trajectory. Science of the Total Environment occupies a valuable niche in the publishing landscape — broad enough to accommodate interdisciplinary work, rigorous enough to maintain credibility, and open-access enough to maximize reach.
But the "best" journal is ultimately the one that aligns with your specific research, your goals as a scientist, and the needs of the community you're trying to reach. Use tools like impact factors and author guidelines as helpful data points, not as definitive answers. And remember that even perfect journal selection can't compensate for unclear writing, weak methodology, or insufficient novelty.
The most important work you do happens long before submission — in the careful design of your study, the rigorous collection of data, and the thoughtful interpretation of results. A well-executed study will find its audience. A poorly executed one won't be saved by the right journal choice.
Choose wisely, prepare carefully, and let the quality of your science speak for itself.
