Is Journal of Hazardous Materials a Good Journal? Impact Factor, Scope, and Fit Guide
Journal of Hazardous Materials (IF 11.3) is Elsevier's flagship for hazard assessment, contaminant fate, and remediation. Here is who should submit, how it compares to ES&T and Chemosphere, and when another journal is smarter.
Senior Researcher, Chemistry
Author context
Specializes in manuscript preparation and peer review strategy for chemistry journals, with deep experience evaluating submissions to JACS, Angewandte Chemie, Chemical Reviews, and ACS-family journals.
Journal fit
See whether this paper looks realistic for Journal of Hazardous Materials.
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Journal of Hazardous Materials at a glance
Key metrics to place the journal before deciding whether it fits your manuscript and career goals.
What makes this journal worth targeting
- IF 11.3 puts Journal of Hazardous Materials in a visible tier — citations from papers here carry real weight.
- Scope specificity matters more than impact factor for most manuscript decisions.
- Acceptance rate of ~~30-35% means fit determines most outcomes.
When to look elsewhere
- When your paper sits at the edge of the journal's stated scope — borderline fit rarely improves after submission.
- If timeline matters: Journal of Hazardous Materials takes ~~90-120 days median. A faster-turnaround journal may suit a grant or job deadline better.
- If open access is required by your funder, verify the journal's OA agreements before submitting.
How to read Journal of Hazardous Materials as a target
This page should help you decide whether Journal of Hazardous Materials belongs on the shortlist, not just whether it sounds impressive.
Question | Quick read |
|---|---|
Best for | Journal of Hazardous Materials published by Elsevier is the premier journal for research on hazardous. |
Editors prioritize | Clear hazard identification and health/environmental risk assessment |
Think twice if | Documenting hazard without addressing remediation or prevention |
Typical article types | Research Article, Review, Perspective |
Journal of Hazardous Materials is one of the strongest environmental journals in the world, with a 2024 impact factor of 11.3 and Q1 ranking in both Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering. Published by Elsevier, it is the default destination for researchers working on contaminant fate, environmental toxicology, remediation technology, and hazardous substance risk assessment.
The honest question is not whether the journal is good. It is whether your paper tells a hazard story clearly enough. Papers that report contaminant occurrence without connecting it to risk, remediation, or safer alternatives get desk-rejected regularly. The journal wants manuscripts where the hazard is the organizing logic, not a background detail.
Journal of Hazardous Materials at a glance
Metric | Value |
|---|---|
Impact Factor (2024 JCR) | 11.3 |
CiteScore (2024) | 20.5 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
APC (gold OA) | ~$3,800 (OA option; subscription also available) |
Acceptance rate | ~18-22% |
First decision | 4-8 weeks |
Quartile | Q1 Environmental Science; Q1 Environmental Engineering |
Scope | Contaminant fate, toxicology, remediation, risk assessment, hazardous waste |
The editorial distinction: hazard narrative, not contamination measurement
The most common reason for desk rejection at JHM is a paper that measures contamination without explaining what the hazard means. Measuring heavy metals in river sediment is environmental monitoring. Showing how those metals enter the food chain, quantifying the risk, and evaluating a remediation approach that reduces exposure is hazardous materials research. The journal wants the second paper.
This distinction matters more than most authors realize. JHM editors look for three things on the first page: (1) a clearly stated hazard or risk, (2) a connection between that hazard and some form of remediation, mitigation, or prevention, and (3) evidence that the work changes understanding of how to manage the hazard. If the abstract reads like analytical chemistry or environmental monitoring, the paper is likely headed for desk rejection regardless of data quality.
How Journal of Hazardous Materials compares
Feature | J. Hazardous Materials | Environ. Pollution | Chemosphere | ES&T (ACS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IF (2024) | 11.3 | 8.9 | 8.1 | 10.8 |
CiteScore | 20.5 | 14.8 | 14.4 | 18.2 |
APC (OA) | ~$3,800 | ~$3,400 | ~$3,400 | ~$2,500 |
Acceptance rate | ~18-22% | ~25-30% | ~25-30% | ~15-20% |
Editorial focus | Hazard, risk, remediation | Environmental contamination and effects | Environmental chemistry, toxicology | Broad environmental science and engineering |
Selectivity signal | Strong | Moderate-strong | Moderate-strong | Strong |
Four comparisons worth understanding:
JHM vs. Environmental Science & Technology: ES&T (IF 10.8, ACS) is broader and covers all environmental science and engineering. JHM is narrower and specifically rewards the hazard-remediation narrative. If your paper is about a specific hazardous substance and how to manage it, JHM gives a more targeted signal. If the contribution is broad environmental engineering or policy, ES&T is the more natural audience.
JHM vs. Chemosphere: Chemosphere (IF 8.1) overlaps with JHM on environmental chemistry and toxicology but is less selective and does not require the same level of hazard interpretation. Papers that are strong chemistry but weak on the hazard framing sometimes land better at Chemosphere.
JHM vs. Environmental Pollution: Environmental Pollution (IF 8.9) covers contamination and its effects broadly. JHM is stronger when the paper explicitly evaluates hazard, risk, or remediation rather than documenting environmental effects.
JHM vs. Water Research: Water Research (IF 11.4) is specifically about water and wastewater. If the hazardous substance problem is specifically water treatment, Water Research may be a better fit. If the hazard story spans soil, air, or waste streams, JHM is broader.
Submit if
- The paper connects a clearly identified hazard to risk assessment, remediation, or prevention with quantitative evidence
- The remediation or treatment approach is evaluated under realistic conditions, not just idealized lab settings
- Transformation products, secondary risks, and practical scalability are addressed
- The hazard narrative is obvious from the abstract and first page without requiring generous interpretation
- The work would still feel like a hazardous materials paper if the journal name were hidden
Journal fit
See whether this paper looks realistic for Journal of Hazardous Materials.
Run the scan with Journal of Hazardous Materials as the target. Get a manuscript-specific fit signal before you commit.
Think twice if
- The paper mainly reports contaminant occurrence or environmental monitoring data without hazard interpretation
- The removal chemistry is optimized in isolation without connecting back to real-world hazard reduction
- The study ignores transformation products or secondary risks from the treatment process
- The paper is fundamentally analytical chemistry or materials science with a thin environmental wrapper
- ES&T, Water Research, or Chemosphere would honestly describe the audience better
What strong JHM papers share
The highest-cited JHM papers follow a recognizable pattern:
- Hazard stated immediately: the abstract names the substance, the exposure pathway, and why it matters before any methods are mentioned
- Remediation evaluated realistically: performance is tested under conditions that approximate real contaminated environments, not just DI water at optimal pH
- Risk quantified: the paper includes some form of risk assessment, dose-response, or exposure modeling rather than relying on "this contaminant is toxic" as motivation
- Comparison against alternatives: the remediation approach is benchmarked against existing methods, not presented in isolation
- Transformation products considered: strong papers address what happens to the contaminant during treatment, not just whether it disappears from solution
Frequently asked questions
What is the Journal of Hazardous Materials impact factor?
The 2024 JCR impact factor is 11.3. The journal ranks Q1 in Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering. It is one of the highest-impact journals dedicated to hazardous substances, remediation, and risk assessment.
What is the acceptance rate at Journal of Hazardous Materials?
Approximately 18-22%. The journal receives a very high volume of submissions and desk-rejects papers that lack a clear hazard narrative or that report contaminant occurrence without remediation or risk interpretation.
How long does Journal of Hazardous Materials review take?
First editorial decisions typically arrive within 4-8 weeks. Desk rejections are common and usually come within 1-2 weeks, particularly for papers framed as pure analytical chemistry or environmental monitoring without a hazard story.
Is Journal of Hazardous Materials better than ES&T?
They serve different niches. ES&T (IF 10.8, ACS) is broader across all environmental science and engineering. J. Hazardous Materials (IF 11.3, Elsevier) is specifically stronger for contaminant fate, toxicology, remediation technology, and risk assessment. If the paper is about hazards specifically, JHM is the more natural home. If it is broad environmental engineering, ES&T may be better.
Bottom line
Journal of Hazardous Materials is one of the best journals for hazard-driven environmental research. Its IF of 12.2 and strong citation metrics reflect a journal that rewards papers connecting contamination to risk and remediation in concrete, quantitative terms. The fit test is simple: does your paper tell a hazard story, and does the remediation or risk assessment change what readers understand about managing that hazard?
If you are unsure whether your hazard framing is strong enough, a JHM submission readiness check can evaluate the narrative and suggest whether JHM, ES&T, or another venue is the right strategic fit.
Before you submit
A JHM submission readiness check identifies the specific framing and scope issues that trigger desk rejection before you submit.
Frequently asked questions
The 2024 JCR impact factor is 11.3. The journal ranks Q1 in Environmental Science and Environmental Engineering. It is one of the highest-impact journals dedicated to hazardous substances, remediation, and risk assessment.
Approximately 18-22%. The journal receives a very high volume of submissions and desk-rejects papers that lack a clear hazard narrative or that report contaminant occurrence without remediation or risk interpretation.
First editorial decisions typically arrive within 4-8 weeks. Desk rejections are common and usually come within 1-2 weeks, particularly for papers framed as pure analytical chemistry or environmental monitoring without a hazard story.
They serve different niches. ES&T (IF 10.8, ACS) is broader across all environmental science and engineering. J. Hazardous Materials (IF 11.3, Elsevier) is specifically stronger for contaminant fate, toxicology, remediation technology, and risk assessment. If the paper is about hazards specifically, JHM is the more natural home. If it is broad environmental engineering, ES&T may be better.
Sources
- 1. Journal of Hazardous Materials homepage, Elsevier.
- 2. Journal of Hazardous Materials guide for authors, Elsevier.
- 3. Clarivate Journal Citation Reports (released June 2025).
Final step
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Where to go next
Same journal, next question
- Journal of Hazardous Materials Submission Guide: What to Prepare Before You Submit
- How to Avoid Desk Rejection at Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Journal of Hazardous Materials Review Time: What Authors Can Actually Expect
- Journal of Hazardous Materials Impact Factor 2026: Ranking, Quartile & What It Means
- Is Your Paper Ready for Journal of Hazardous Materials? The Hazard Relevance Test
- Journal of Hazardous Materials APC and Open Access: Current Elsevier Fee, Coverage, and What Actually Matters
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