Question

Define bioaccumulation and biomagnification.

Short answer

Bioaccumulation is the process by which a substance accumulates in the tissues of an organism over time, often because it is absorbed faster than it is excreted. Biomagnification refers to the increasing concentration of a substance in the tissues of organisms at higher levels in a food chain, particularly substances that are long-lived, mobile, fat-soluble, and bioaccumulative.

Step-by-step solution

Defining Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which a substance, typically a chemical pollutant, accumulates in the tissues of an organism over time. This typically happens when a substance is absorbed at a rate faster than it is excreted.

Defining Biomagnification

Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or biological magnification, is the increasing concentration of a substance, such as a toxic chemical, in the tissues of organisms at successively higher levels in a food chain. This typically occurs with substances that are long-lived, mobile, soluble in fat rather than water, and bioaccumulative.