Impact of Industrial Pollution and GenotoxicEffects in Marsh Frog (<i>Pelophylax ridibundus</i>(Pallas, 1771)) Populations in Kosovo

Industrial pollution from anthropogenic activities is a critical global issue, significantly affecting biodiversity.Due to their unique life cycle, limited mobility, permeable skin, and dual habitat in aquatic and terrestrial environments, amphibians exhibit high sensitivity to environmental changes and serve as reliable bioindicators of pollution.This study assesses the impact of industrial pollution on Pelophylax ridibundus populations by examining erythrocyte nuclear morphology.Specimens were collected from four polluted industrial sites (Kishnica, Obiliq, Mitrovica, and Drenas) and one control site (Dragash) in Kosovo during the spring and autumn seasons of 2023.Blood samples were obtained via ventricular puncture, and smears were prepared following standard protocols, stained using the May-Grnwald-Giemsa method, and examined under a light microscope.The observed nuclear abnormalities included micronuclei, binuclei, vacuolated nuclei, and irregularly shaped nuclei.Significant variations were identified in the frequency of nuclear abnormalities between the studied locations and across seasons.The findings of this study highlight the practical utility of analyzing micronuclei and nuclear abnormalities in P. ridibundus as evaluative parameters for assessing the environmental health of ecosystems exposed to industrial pollution.