An Ecotoxicological Approach Assessing the Effects of Weak EMFs on Hyalella Azteca, Lemna Minor, and Daphnia Magna Using Lethal and Sub-Lethal Endpoints

The application of EMFs in the environment are widespread yet little research has been completed to assess the ecotoxicological effect on ecologically-relevant organisms. This study aims to assess the ecotoxicological effects of an EMF device used to increase concentrations of dissolved oxygen in water. This was accomplished by using the lethal and sub-lethal endpoints of survival, reproduction, appearance (Lemna minor), and behaviour of Hyalella azteca, and Daphnia magna. All of the endpoints studied showed no statistical evidence that the studied organisms are negatively affected in-lab by these EMFs. A secondary aim of this study was to assess the difficulties and solutions in establishing new mass cultures in laboratories without the same access to various resources. The findings favoured reduced feeding and increased aeration in all vessels, and demonstrated that healthy organisms could be cultured under non-axenic conditions.