Low-Frequency Pulsed Magnetic Field Enhances the Genotoxicity of Chromium(VI) Ions in Amphibians

Abstract

This article reports the results of a study of Cr(VI) ions mutagenicity in the erythrocytes of Bufo viridis tadpoles under the influence of a low-frequency pulsed magnetic field (LF PMF). The tadpoles were randomly divided into 14 groups (n = 7). One group of intact tadpoles served as control. Other groups were experimental. The first six groups were placed for 24 h in water containing Cr(VI) at different concentrations (0.025, 0.05, 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.50 mg/L). The eighth group was subjected to an 8-h exposure to LF PMF (41 mT, 16 Hz). The remaining six groups of tadpoles were kept for 24 h in water with Cr(VI) ions at the specified concentrations and were also irradiated with LF PMF (41 mT, 16 Hz) during the first 8 h of this period. A day after the exposure, blood smears were taken, and the frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear anomalies in erythrocytes were analyzed. The results reveal that low concentrations of Cr(VI) (0.025 and 0.05 mg/L), unlike the higher ones (0.125 mg/L and above), did not significantly affect the frequencies of the analyzed anomalies. The combined action of Cr(VI) and LF PMF significantly increased the frequencies of the recorded anomalies in all the six variants of the experiment. The synergistic effect of Cr(VI) and LF PTF was shown.