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BLOOD CELL COUNT IN BROILER BREEDERS AFTER EXPOSURE TO RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

The results of many studies have shown that the exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) at the operating frequency of wireless communication devices or mobile phones can induce various non-thermal biological effects on humans and animals. Previous studies were investigating radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation effects on chicken growth, development, fertility, mutation, and mortality. However, the knowledge of the effect of RF-EMF on haematological parameters in birds is very limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the blood cell count in 55 week-old broiler breeder flocks exposed to RF- EMF. The flocks were divided into control and experimental groups. The experimental group was exposed to RF-EMF at 2.4 GHz and an average electric field level of 100 mV m-1 for 21 days. The radiofrequency electric field strength and frequency were measured at three locations using the portable spectrum analyser NARDA SRM 3000 (NARDA, USA). There were no other significant sources of electromagnetic radiation. Blood samples were collected on the heparin anticoagulant from the wing vein before exposure (day 0) and on days 2, 5, 8, 14 and 20 of the experiment. The number of white (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC) from the collected samples was counted in a Neubauer haemocytometer, according to the Natt and Herrick’s method. After the statistical analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between the control and experimental groups with respect to RBC and WBC counts, although the experimental group had lower values of RBC and WBC. It can be concluded that a short-term exposure (20 days) to RF-EMF at the frequency of 2.4 GHz and field level of 100 mV/m did not induce alteration in the blood cell count in the breeders. Future research should consider the potential effects of RF-EMF on other blood parameters, and research of a longer RF-EMF exposure time should also be made.

BROILER, RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION, EXPOSURE, BLOOD CELL COUNT

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