Incidence of Heavy Metals in the Application of Fertilizers to Crops (Wheat and Rice), a Fish (Common carp) Pond and a Human Health Risk Assessment

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

In abstract:

author suddenly mentioned HI  means what?

Introduction part needs a few more recent works adjoining study sites. 

Methodology Part:

The Study map needs to be revised with good quality satellite data. 

QA & QC details missing

Chemicals grade details missing 

ICP-MS standard details missing

Soil texture details missing

Why author used Cyprinus carpio? dominant species or any specific reason need to give in the revised MS. 

Water quality parameters methods details missing.

Why author used AAS for the water sample? 

 Statistical analysis are very weak. 

An author may use PCA relationship, or box plot between abiotic and biotic relationships. 

BAC (Bioaccumulation) analysis may try here.

Data interpretation is very weak. 

 

Author Response

Reviewer 1 (Comments and answer given by authors)

1. Abstract

author suddenly mentioned HI means what?

Authors response: corrected

2. Introduction

Introduction part needs a few more recent works adjoining study sites. 

Authors response: Recent studies related to study sites has been added.

3. Methodology

The Study map needs to be revised with good quality satellite data. 

Authors response: Quality has been improved

Chemicals grade details missing 

Authors response: Added

ICP-MS standard details missing

Authors response: Added

Soil texture details missing

Authors response: detail has been added

Why author used Cyprinus carpio? dominant species or any specific reason need to give in the revised MS. 

Authors response: Already given in the introductory part of the manuscript  

Water quality parameters methods details missing.

Authors response: details are added

Why author used AAS for the water sample? 

Authors response: Corrected

 Statistical analysis are very weak

Authors response: statistical analysis has been improved by applying given suggestion

An author may use PCA relationship, or box plot between abiotic and biotic relationships.

Authors response: PCA has been applied

BAC (Bioaccumulation) analysis may try here.

Authors response: Added

Data interpretation is very weak.

Authors response: improved

 

Reviewer 2 Report

This manuscript (sustainability-1917229) studied the Assessment of the Risk to Human Health from the Presence of Heavy Metals in Fertilizers Applied to Crops (Wheat and Rice) and Fish (Cyprinus carpio) Ponds.

the authors have written a well-structured and thought article. The background of the introduction can be improved. The experimental part is described in detail. I also have no objection to results and discussion. In my view, the work reported in the manuscript is interesting and may be accepted for publication after major revision and the following issues should be addressed in this manuscript:

1.     The quality of figures, figure captions and tables should be improved.

2.     In the introduction, further information about heavy metal pollution in water and the threats to human health should be presented and clarified. Key reference (IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 612 (2020) 012023). The knowledge gap should be explained first and then the novelty of the work could be highlighted.

3.     Please re-write the last paragraph in the introduction to show the novelty of this work.

4.     The discussion section should add more literature for comparing the study.

5.     In conclusion, please provide recommendations for future works.

6.     The entire manuscript needs a good deal of work in improving its English usage so that it becomes much more readable.

Author Response

Reviewer 2 (Comments and answer given by authors)

1. The quality of figures, figure captions and tables should be improved. author suddenly mentioned HI means what?

Authors response: The quality of figures and captions has been improved. HI means hazard index which is added to abstract.

2. In the introduction, further information about heavy metal pollution in water and the threats to human health should be presented and clarified. Key reference (IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 612 (2020) 012023). The knowledge gap should be explained first and then the novelty of the work could be highlighted

Authors response: Compiled

3. Please re-write the last paragraph in the introduction to show the novelty of this work.

Authors response: Corrected

4. The discussion section should add more literature for comparing the study.

Authors response: Recent studies has been added

5. In conclusion, please provide recommendations for future works.

Authors response: Added

6. The entire manuscript needs a good deal of work in improving its English usage so that it becomes much more readable.

Authors response: English grammar and usage has been improved.

 

 

Reviewer 3 Report

 

The current study titled “Incidence of Heavy Metals in the Application of Fertilizers to Crops (Wheat and Rice) and Fish (Cyprinus carpio) Pond and Human Health Risk Assessment”

 

Significant major corrections are necessary before the publication can be accepted.

 

1.      Title needs some modification as suggested: Incidence of Heavy Metals in the Application of Fertilizers to Crops (Wheat and Rice), Fish (Cyprinus carpio) Pond, and Human Health Risk Assessment. Another point, the symmetric should be found in the title, you write the common name of Crops (Wheat and Rice), while you write the scientific name of fish (Cyprinus carpio), you should change either the common name or scientific name. If you write the common name, put the scientific name in the keywords.

2.      The introduction is inadequate and needs to improve especially with regard to eutrophication, fish feed habitats, water assessment, and aquatic habitats. Authors may use the following refs. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13060268  ;  https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v18_10_03 

3.      Follow the journal's format and guidelines.

4.      The title of Table 6 needs to be more descriptive

 

5.      The novelty of this work should be detailed.

Author Response

Reviewer 3 (Comments and answer given by authors)

1. Title needs some modification as suggested: Incidence of Heavy Metals in the Application of Fertilizers to Crops (Wheat and Rice), Fish (Cyprinus carpio) Pond, and Human Health Risk Assessment. Another point, the symmetric should be found in the title, you write the common name of Crops (Wheat and Rice), while you write the scientific name of fish (Cyprinus carpio), you should change either the common name or scientific name. If you write the common name, put the scientific name in the keywords.

Authors response: Title has been modified as suggested by reviewer

2. The introduction is inadequate and needs to improve especially with regard to eutrophication, fish feed habitats, water assessment, and aquatic habitats. Authors may use the following refs. https://doi.org/10.3390/d13060268;  https://doi.org/10.4194/1303-2712-v18_10_03 

Authors response: Introduction has been improved by using the suggested studies.

3. Follow the journal's format and guidelines.

Authors response: Compiled

4. The title of Table 6 needs to be more descriptive

Authors response: More detail has been added

5. The novelty of this work should be detailed.

Authors response: Novelty has been improved

 

 

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

A Few Typographic errors have to be rectified before publication. 

Reviewer 2 Report

The paper has been revised well and the issues were addressed carefully. Therefore, I recommend the acceptance of the paper.

Reviewer 3 Report

Accept