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Peer-Review Record

The Consequences of a Lack of Basic Sanitation in the Municipality of Maricá (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) Resulting in Low Concentrations of Metals but Dissemination of Endocrine Disruptors Through Local Environments: Subsidies for Local Environmental Management

Eng 2024, 5(4), 3467-3487; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5040181

by Moisés L. Gil^1,2, Estefan M. da Fonseca^1,3,*

, Bruno S. Pierri^1,2, Jéssica de F. Delgado^1,2, Leonardo da S. Lima^1,2, Danieli L. da Cunha^1,2

, Thulio R. Corrêa¹, Charles V. Neves¹ and Daniele M. Bila⁴

Reviewer 1: Anonymous

Reviewer 2:

Cristina Modrogan

Eng 2024, 5(4), 3467-3487; https://doi.org/10.3390/eng5040181

Submission received: 11 November 2024 / Revised: 16 December 2024 / Accepted: 17 December 2024 / Published: 19 December 2024

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Engineering for Sustainable Development 2024)

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The paper focuses on the important topic of xenoestrogens, metals and bacteria pollution in one of the urbanized areas. The paper uses modern methods. However, its presentation needs improvement.

In the introduction it is necessary to justify the study of metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni and Zn) and the metalloid As in the study area, as well as other environmental parameters.

If in addition to xenoestrogens, metals were studied, then they should be given attention in the introduction and discussion. Perhaps add this question to the title of the publication.

When using an abbreviation for the first time, give the full name or expand it in brackets. See Line 33.

And most importantly, rewrite the results so that it is only a presentation of the measured parameters. and add a separate discussion section, where there will be a comparison with literary data and any explanations in connection with the literary sources used and your own speculations.

Lines 112-117 should be in Introduction.

Line 126 Check English [A Van Dorn water sampler (5 l) was used to collect water samples.]

Lines 128-132. Also English is poor. Rewrite clearer [A stainless steel spatula and Van Veen sampler were used to collect surface sediments. After being collected, the sediment samples were placed to 200 mL amber glass bottles for the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES Assay). Polyethylene plastic bags were used to hold sediment samples for metal concentrations and physicochemical characteristics (grain size and organic matter content).]

Lines 137-140: After collection, the samples were stored at +4°C (in some refrigerator?) and transported to the laboratory. Surface sediment samples intended for YES analysis were subjected to solid-phase extraction (EFS - what does this abbreviation mean???) and ultrasonic treatment within 48 hours of collection. Water samples for E. (full at first mention) coli were also processed (how?) for the same period of time.

Lines 141-144: Reconsider as [All instruments and glassware used during sample collection and sample preparation in the laboratory were pre-decontaminated by sequential washing with neutral soap (Extran®), acetone, hexane and ultrapure water.]

Lines 146-151: The presence and number of E. coli in water samples was determined using the most probable number (MPN) method, as described in the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater [33]. In brief, 100 mL of water sample was filtered through a membrane filter (0.45 μm porosity), transferred to E. coli selective culture medium, and incubated at 35-37 °C. After 24 hours, the E. coli colony was tested to see if it had developed.

Line 154. ... and metalloid As.

Line 156. Delete "respectively"

How was chlorophyll a determined?

Line 244. Correlations above 0.7 (p < 0.05) were considered significant. ---Pay attention that the significance of Spearman correlations depends on the number of observations

Lines 261-269 . That s discussion.

The quality of the figures 2-8 and 9-17 needs to be improved. Remove unnecessary zeros from the axis labels and improve the clarity of the images.

The figures and captions themselves are very small and hard to read. Is it necessary to have so many figures? Anything secondary can be moved to supplementary material.

4.4 Correlations

There is no discussion

Thus, I ask the authors to carefully rework the article.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

English requires careful editing. In many places, sentences need to be restructured and supplemented with information.

Example: L. 128-131 Surface sediments were gathered using a Van Veen sampler and a spatula, both made of stainless steel, and were subsequently transferred to 200 mL amber glass bottles for the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES Assay). Physicochemical parameters such as grain size, organic matter content, and heavy metal concentrations were analyzed using samples placed in polyethylene plastic bags.

Improve as: A stainless steel spatula and Van Veen sampler were used to collect surface sediments. After being collected, the sediment samples were placed to 200 mL amber glass bottles for the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES Assay). Polyethylene plastic bags were used to hold sediment samples for metal concentrations and physicochemical characteristics (grain size and organic matter content).

Author Response

The paper focuses on the important topic of xenoestrogens, metals and bacteria pollution in one of the urbanized areas. The paper uses modern methods. However, its presentation needs improvement.

In the introduction it is necessary to justify the study of metals (Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, Hg, Ni and Zn) and the metalloid As in the study area, as well as other environmental parameters.

Reply: We added a important sentence to justify it.

If in addition to xenoestrogens, metals were studied, then they should be given attention in the introduction and discussion. Perhaps add this question to the title of the publication.

Reply: We changed the title to include this point on it.

When using an abbreviation for the first time, give the full name or expand it in brackets. See Line 33.

Reply: Thank you for this observation

And most importantly, rewrite the results so that it is only a presentation of the measured parameters. and add a separate discussion section, where there will be a comparison with literary data and any explanations in connection with the literary sources used and your own speculations.

Reply: We accommodate your requests regarding this comment.

Lines 112-117 should be in Introduction.

Reply: Thank you for this observation. We feel that this information is important to be presented in M&M because in this topic we can present and provide the information about the water body, including adding and referencing figure 1 which visually presents our study area.

Line 126 Check English [A Van Dorn water sampler (5 l) was used to collect water samples.]

Reply: Thank you. It was modified.

Lines 128-132. Also English is poor. Rewrite clearer [A stainless steel spatula and Van Veen sampler were used to collect surface sediments. After being collected, the sediment samples were placed to 200 mL amber glass bottles for the Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES Assay). Polyethylene plastic bags were used to hold sediment samples for metal concentrations and physicochemical characteristics (grain size and organic matter content).]

Reply: Thank you. It was modified.

Lines 137-140: After collection, the samples were stored at +4°C (in some refrigerator?) and transported to the laboratory. Surface sediment samples intended for YES analysis were subjected to solid-phase extraction (EFS - what does this abbreviation mean???) and ultrasonic treatment within 48 hours of collection. Water samples for E. (full at first mention) coli were also processed (how?) for the same period of time.