Effect of a low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic field on the mutagenicity of copper ions in amphibian tadpoles

The aim of the study was to analyze the combined effect of various concentrations of copper (II) ions and a low-frequency pulsed magnetic field on the induction of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in erythrocytes of Bufo viridis tadpoles. The study used 12 groups of tadpoles with 5 individuals in each. The first group served as control. The tadpoles of the next five groups were kept for 24 hours in water containing Cu+2 ions at concentrations of 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 mg/l. The seventh group was subjected to an 8-hour exposure to a low-frequency pulsed magnetic field (41 mT, 16 Hz, pulse duration - 20 ms). The tadpoles of the last five groups were subjected to simultaneous (combined) exposure to an 8-hour of the low-frequency pulsed magnetic field and a 24-hour exposure to water containing the studied five concentrations of copper. At the end of the exposure period and the daily interval necessary for the implementation of cytogenetic disorders, blood smears were prepared. In smears, the frequencies of erythrocytes with micronuclei and nuclear anomalies were analyzed. It has been established that under the isolated effect of copper, a statistically significant increase in the analyzed disorders occurs at concentrations of 0.10-0.25 mg/l. An individual 8-hour exposure to a low-frequency pulsed magnetic field did not cause a statistically significant increase in micronuclei, but led to a statistically significant increase in the frequency of nuclear anomalies. The combined effect of the electromagnetic field and copper ions in all five variants of the experiment led to a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies.