Effects of Photobiomodulation on Daphnia magna Straus and their Sensitivity to Toxicant

Abstract

This paper deals with the effect of photobiomodulation (PBM) on Daphnia magna S. and their sensitivity to cadmium sulfate, a known high toxic pollutant. In a first series of experiments, the effect of different He‐Ne laser fluences irradiation (range 0.9‐4300 mJ cm−2) on the fertility of both parent and filial generations (F1–F3) of the crustacean was studied. It was found that PBM in some cases significantly influenced the fertility of both irradiated crustaceans and their nonirradiated offspring. By selecting two fluences (9 ± 2 mJ cm−2 reducing fertility and 4.3 ± 0.9 J cm−2 increasing it), the effect of these on toxicity of cadmium sulfate was evaluated. These experiments have shown that prior irradiation with low‐intensity light of a helium–neon laser with 632.8 nm wavelength can change the sensitivity of aquatic organisms to toxin cadmium sulfate. The degree and direction of changes depend on the toxicant concentration and the irradiation dose.