Environmental Health Journal Halts Submissions Due to Funding Shortages

A prominent environmental health journal in the United States, Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP), has announced a suspension of new manuscript submissions. This decision comes amidst concerns over federal funding reductions that threaten the journal's operations. EHP, a publication supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has played a critical role for over 50 years in disseminating research on environmental toxins such as air pollution and persistent chemicals that impact human health. Known for its open-access model, EHP has allowed free public access to vital health information, supported by government funding that enabled widespread participation from researchers at smaller institutions.

According to Joel Kaufman, EHP's chief editor, the suspension is due to a "lack of confidence" that essential contracts for editorial services and publication infrastructure will be renewed. The future of the journal remains uncertain.

This development is part of a broader trend affecting several key health research journals under the proposed budget of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In addition to EHP, other publications such as Emerging Infectious Diseases and Preventing Chronic Disease—both supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—are also facing potential funding cuts. These journals are crucial sources for ongoing health research and surveillance, including tracking emerging infectious threats like mpox and Marburg virus.

The news has been received with concern by the scientific community. Virologist Jason Kindrachuk from the University of Manitoba expressed dismay over the potential loss of these platforms, emphasizing their importance in public health response and research dissemination.

The decision to suspend submissions coincides with tensions between the federal government and the scientific publishing sector, including questions raised about journal ethics. Despite official support for open-access dissemination, the recent budget proposals threaten to diminish the availability of free, credible health research. Such cuts could hinder small universities and independent researchers from sharing their findings, contradicting the administration's previously stated aims to advance chronic disease studies.

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