**Environmental Health Perspectives: Renewal and Change Under the ACS**
The esteemed journal *Environmental Health Perspectives* (*EHP*), celebrated for its exploration of the connections between environmental factors and human health, encountered an ambiguous future when financial issues resulted in its pause. Its resurgence occurred when the American Chemical Society (ACS) assumed control, guaranteeing the journal’s continuity and growth.
Historically, *EHP* was a government-supported entity, previously operating under the auspices of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Despite making a substantial impact, funding challenges at the NIEHS compelled the journal to halt new submissions and go offline, prompting concerns within the research community about the possible loss of this vital scientific resource.
ACS’s acquisition of *EHP* signifies an important transition. By incorporating *EHP* into its collection, ACS not only secures the journal’s future but also enhances its reputation in environmental and medical sciences. The society aims to reopen submissions by 2026 and will provide access to previously published materials on its platform.
Importantly, *EHP* will move from a diamond to a gold open access model—an alteration that introduces article processing charges (APCs), which will be waived for the year 2023. While this change is in line with many modern publishing practices, it prompts discussions regarding accessibility and the financial implications for researchers.
The transition phase has raised concerns about possible conflicts of interest due to ACS’s associations with the chemical sector. Nevertheless, ACS is called upon to uphold editorial independence, ensuring that industry influences do not compromise scientific integrity.
In summary, ACS’s acquisition of *EHP* prolongs the journal’s existence and pledges to maintain its significance as a key platform for research in environmental health. The forthcoming actions to uphold its academic quality and independence will be pivotal in influencing the long-term achievement of this transition.