Biomonitoring of Heavy Metal and Metalloid Contamination in Industrial Wastewater Irrigated Areas Using Sugar Beet (Brassica oleracea L.)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Attached. 

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

The work concerns the analysis of heavy metal (loid) levels in soil and sugar beets in regions irrigated with industrial wastewater. This is important research, especially for those regions where resources are limited and water mixed with sewage is used to irrigate fields. The paper presents interesting information on the accumulation of metals in sugar deficiency and the expected toxic effect on humans. The reviewer below will include comments that should be made to the text before publication:

·        Lines 23-27. „The heavy metal(loid) values in the wastewater irrigated soil samples ranged from 1.852 to 2.106, 0.726 to 0.767, 1.206 to 1.837, 1.485 to 2.206, 3.274 to 4.053, 0.810 to 1.090, 1.345 to 1.546, 0.346 to 0.383 and 0.260 to 0.907 mg/kg and wastewater irrigated sugar beet samples ranged from 1.273 to 1.357, 0.051 to 0.115, 0.407 to 0.465, 0.783 to 0.970, 0.931 to 1.288, 0.498 to 0.837, 0.670 to 0.805, 0.088 to 0.143 and 1.482 to 1.666 mg/kg for Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn respectively.” Please correct this sentence, it may be misleading because it is very complex. For example, the content of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the wastewater irrigated soil samples ranged from 0.726 to 4.053 mg/kg.

·        The introduction is not enough. Please write about various sources of heavy metals and their penetration into the soil environment, affecting agriculture. Then focus on the sugar industry. Relate information from Pakistan with other countries of the world showing the differences. Indicate opportunities for improvement or development in the described thematic scope.

·        2.1. Study area - If possible, write latitude and longitude data for the described area. Is there any other industry in the area, such as heavy industry? Write if there are other sources of heavy metals in the area in your area.

·        Figure 1.- consider making a similar map using google maps. In the opinion of the reviewer, it could be more readable

·        Sample Collection- The authors wrote that they took soil samples at random. How did they ensure that the samples taken were representative of the area? Was there an experiment plan that involved taking soil samples from appropriate locations? If so, this can be represented graphically

·        Sample Collection -Why did the authors take 2.5 cm of soil from the top, and not, for example, 0-20 cm? What was the sampling technique? What device was the soil collected with?

·        Sample Collection- The degree of accumulation of heavy metals in soils is influenced by its physicochemical properties. It can add information about soil type, soil grain size, organic matter content, etc.

·        Line 94 - HNO3 - correct indexes for chemical compounds throughout the document.

·        In the results - data for site 1 and site 2 are given. Please add information about site 1 and site 2 in the methodology or at the beginning of discussing the results. This will make it easier for readers to follow the results of your research.

·        In figures 5 and 6 the title "dendogram using average linkage" is not of good quality. You can enlarge the axis descriptions for Figures 5 and 6

·        Line 318 replace” utilised” with utilized

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Minor editing of English language required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 2 Report

In its present form, the article is ready for printing.

Author Response

All corrections were corrected and confirmed in the text. Also, many self-citations were removed from the paper and the references (red font) were added to the references section.

Cordial regards.