Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Using Forest Species Plantations of Post-Mining Landscapes, Ptolemais, N. Greece
Allan Legge
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
The concept behind this paper is interesting but falls short of being very informative for the reader. It assumes far more knowledge on the part of the reader than is provided in the text. The authors appear to assume that the reader is familiar with all of the important elements provided in the extensive list of references.
The approach is far too narrow. The matter of vegetation restoration, for example, is more that just an isolated forestry/vegetation issue. It is a Thermal Power Plant emissions control issue which is an air quality and a deposition issue as well as a soil chemistry issue. These issues are all related but addressed. What is the chemical composition of the emitted fly ash and how do these data relate to foliage chemistry? How much is from the air and how much is from the soil?
The paper reads more like a very narrow report than a well balanced scientific paper. A more holistic multidisciplinary approach is required by the authors pulling together the issues outlined above. This is how meaningful environmental management is achieved.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for taking the time to read the paper. We have read your comments carefully and have tried to respond to all your comments. From line 45 onwards the text gives data from the literature on the concentrations of heavy metals in both fly ash and soil. Also explain why air deposition is the main way to deposit heavy metals. In the table given are the concentrations of heavy metals that were also measured by the present research in the leaves. While there is an abundance of publications on the area reporting heavy metal concentrations in fly ash and soil very few publications are available on vegetation. It is the first time with the present research that research is done on specific forest trees which are tested for the first time in such environments. Trees with different leaf morphology retain significant amounts of heavy metals. A list of suitable species for planting in corresponding environments could be given. It is also the first time that the role of the planting joint in retention has been studied. Forest science offers its own small part in environmental management.
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
on behalf of the writers
Dr. Theano Samara
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors atated their aim to be determine the levels of airborne heavy metal contamination, but I do not think the result could differentiate the heavy meta taken up through roots or vir air. Further, I think it is necessary to test the heavy metal concentrations in the soil, corresponding to the leave samples.
In terms of the last sentence of the conclusion, I do not think there is enough evidence for the improvement.
Usually mg/kg is used instead of ppm.
Author Response
Dear reviewer,
Thank you very much for taking the time to read the paper. We have read your comments carefully and have tried to respond to all your comments. From line 45 onwards the text gives data from the literature on the concentrations of heavy metals in both fly ash and soil. Also explain why air deposition is the main way to deposit heavy metals. In the table given are the concentrations of heavy metals that were also measured by the present research in the leaves. While there is an abundance of publications on the area reporting heavy metal concentrations in fly ash and soil very few publications are available on vegetation. It is the first time with the present research that research is done on specific forest trees which are tested for the first time in such environments. Trees with different leaf morphology retain significant amounts of heavy metals. A list of suitable species for planting in corresponding environments could be given. It is also the first time that the role of the planting joint in retention has been studied. Planting trees in areas where the soil surface is completely bare offers a great improvement to the general environment. Firstly, the trees with their roots reduce soil erosion, with their crowns they reduce the speed of the wind and with the humidity of respiration, they firstly reduce atmospheric erosion and retain significant concentrations of heavy metals. They create a suitable environment for the colonization of new precursor species and the presence of fauna to begin. For the above reasons the selection and planting of proper forest species offers a general improvement of the environment around thermal power plants.
Also mg/kg and ppm is the same unit. The only reason that all the results are given in ppm is that ICP was given the results in ppm.
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
on behalf of the writers
Dr. Theano Samara
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
Detailed comments/suggestions are provided in the attachment.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
Dear reviewer 1,
Thank you very much for participating in the reviewing process and for yours point to point comments. We have read your comments carefully and have tried to respond to all your comments.
The indication of table 1 in the text was ended. The background information about the fly ashes and soils heavy metals concentrations were given because they all related, fly ash-soil-plant. It is also explained why the main pathway of heavy metal accumulation by plants is via atmospheric position (Note line 45-46).
Also it is important to underline that at the experiment we measured the heavy metal concentrations that are retained on leaves/needles surface and absorbed to the leaves/needles surface. It is important to reduce the concentration of heavy metals in a burdened ecosystem, the total concentration of heavy metals that is removed from the ecosystem regardless of whether it is retained in the leaves or absorbed on their surface (Line 88-95 note).
The Latin name of species were consistently used in all the text (25. NOTE).
All the other changes have been made point to point
Thank you in advance.
Yours sincerely,
on behalf of the writers
Dr. Theano Samara
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The authors have addressed my concerns. I suggest accept.
Author Response
Dear reviewer 2,
Thank you very much for participating in the reviewing process.
Yours sincerely,
on behalf of the writers
Dr. Theano Samara
Author Response File: 
Author Response.docx
