Bioaccumulation
Definition
Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which toxins or pollutants build up in the tissues of an organism over time, often at a rate faster than they can be eliminated. This can occur through ingestion, absorption, or inhalation of these substances.
Analogy
Imagine you have a piggy bank that you fill with coins every day. Over time, the coins accumulate and fill up the piggy bank. Similarly, bioaccumulation is like filling up an organism's "toxicity piggy bank" with harmful substances until it reaches dangerous levels.
Related terms
Biomagnification: Biomagnification is the process where toxins or pollutants become more concentrated as they move up the food chain. It occurs because organisms at higher trophic levels consume larger quantities of prey containing accumulated toxins.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): POPs are toxic chemicals that resist degradation and persist in the environment for long periods. They tend to bioaccumulate in organisms and can cause adverse effects on ecosystems and human health.
Half-life: The half-life is the time it takes for half of a substance to decay or be eliminated from an organism's body. It helps determine how long a substance will persist in an organism before being reduced by natural processes.
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