the concentration of chemicals in living organisms.

Bioaccumulation denotes the accumulation of a substance in a living organism as a result of its intake both in food and from the environment. Determination of the B-factor (Bioaccumulation Factor) is extremely important in the risk analysis of a compound.

The uptake and retention of environmental substances by an organism by means other than the ingestion of food. See Biomagnification.

The build-up in an organism of a substance found in its environment.

Build-up of toxic substances through the food chain. The result of bioaccumulation is contaminants found at higher concentrations in predators. A concern exists with build-up in fish tissues and passing the toxins on to human and other animal consumers.

(Bioaccumulation) Process by which some endogenous or exogenous substances, present in small quantities, increase in concentration in an organ, an organism, a food chain, or an ecosystem.(Translated from Parent, S. Dictionnaire des sciences de l'environnement. Broquet, Québec, 1990.)

Concentration of substances, especially toxicants, in the tissue of plants and animals.

The build-up of toxic materials in body tissues of fish and animals.

The net accumulation of a chemical by an organism as a result of uptake from all routes of exposure (Suter 1993).

the accumulation of chemicals through the food chain by living organisms.

A term used to describe a process that occurs when levels of toxic substances increase in an organism over time, due to continued exposure.

The selective absorption and concentration of molecules by cells.

Progressive increase in the amount of a substance in an organism or part of an organism which occurs because the rate of intake exceeds the organisms ability to remove the pesticide from the body. (after Duffus, 1993)

The tendency for a pollutant to accumulate in the tissues of plants or animals.

the process by which chemicals are amassed by organisms from water directly or through the consumption of food containing the chemicals.

The absorption and concentration of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and certain pesticides in plants and animals. Toxicity can be expressed in several ways: lead that is ingested by calves can bioaccumulate in their bones, interfering with calcium absorption and bone development; stored chemicals may be released to the blood stream at a later time, for example, during gestation or weight loss; and chemicals may concentrate to lethal levels at upper ends of the food chain. Bioconcentration is a synonym for biaccumulation.

The accumulation of contaminants in the tissues of organisms through any route, including respiration, ingestion, or direct contact with contaminated water, sediment, pore water, or dredged material. Such processes can result in levels of pollutants in tissues of aquatic organisms far higher than in the surrounding water.

Storage in the tissue of animals of higher concentrations of a chemical which is found in the environment or in food.

the process by which chemicals taken up by organisms from the environment become concentrated in body tissues

the process in which a substance is taken up by an aquatic organism through any route, including respiration, ingestion, or direct contact with water or sediment.

Related Topics: [ wetlands] Although organisms are able to moderate the concentrations of most substances within their bodies, some substances cannot be regulated and consequently tend to become more concentrated in living tissues as they move through the food chain. Consequently if toxins capable of bioaccumulating are present in a system, the organisms at the top of the food chain are likely to suffer the most. Probably the most famous and best documented of all bioaccumulants is DDT.

the retention and buildup of chemicals or hazardous contaminated organisms lower on the food chain

the process in which a pollutant builds up in the body over an individual's lifetime.

The process of accumulation of biomass (or the volume of organic material) within an ecosystem.

A process whereby chemicals (e.g., DDTs, PCBs) are retained by plants and animals and increase in concentration over time. Uptake can occur through feeding or direct absorption from water or sediments.

see " Food chain." Page - 18

Concentration of contaminants as they move up a food chain.

Accumulation of metals or other toxics in living organisms.

The uptake and storage of chemicals (e.g. DDTs, PCBs) from the environment by animals and plants. Uptake can occur through feeding or direct absorption from water or sediments.

The accumulation within living organisms of toxic substances occuring in the environment.

The uptake of toxic chemicals leading to elevated concentrations of those substances within plant or animal tissue.

The increase in the concentration of a chemical in an organism that resides in an environment contaminated by low concentrations of various organic compounds.

The increase in concentration of a substance in living organisms, as they take in contaminated air, water, or food, due to slow metabolization and excretion.

occurs when plants or animals collect contaminants in their tissues over time; when low amounts of contaminants are continually absorbed, they build up and can cause illness

The process by which the amount of a substance in a living organism (or its parts) increases with time.

the process by which compounds accumulate or build up in an organism at a rate faster than they can be broken down

Sometimes defined as bioconcentration, but often refers more specifically to a buildup in body contaminants as a result of intake of food or sediments. Bioaccumulation is responsible for the increasingly high body burdens of contaminants in animals as they approach the top of the food chain, such as birds and mammals.

The tendency of chemicals to accumulate in organisms (eg fish) at higher concentrations than in the ambient environment (eg water).

The accumulation of a chemical in plant or animal tissue at concentrations higher than in the surrounding water.

an increase in the concentration of a particular substance, most often a toxin, in an organism as it consumes those lower on the food chain that have smaller concentrations of the same substance.

Biological uptake of an element or compound from solution in amounts up to its ambient concentration in the environment.

Accumulation of materials (often toxic) within living organisms and not readily excreted by them, thus becoming more concentrated in each step in the food chain.

An accumulation of pollutants larger than what occurs naturally.

the accumulation of a substance (contaminant) within the tissues of an organism.

When a substance accumulates in living tissues in the environment, usually with poisonous effects.

Intracellular accumulation of environmental pollutants such as heavy metals by living organisms, including microorganisms, plants, and humans.

bioconcentration or biomagnification; the tendency for a substance to accumulate in living tissue. An organism may take in a substance, but not excrete or metabolise it; then, a predator eats the organism and ingests the substance already accumulated in the prey.

bi-o-a-cume-u-LAY-shun Higher concentration of a chemical in cells than in the nonliving surroundings. 866

General terms describing a process by which chemical substances are accumulated by aquatic organisms from water directly or through consumption of food containing the chemicals.

Concentration of chemicals in the fatty tissues of living things that are eaten by other things so that the concentrations become ever greater.

A process whereby certain chemicals become more highly concentrated in the bodies of organisms higher in the food chain.

The process of gathering certain substances (usually pollutants) in higher and higher concentrations within a living organism.

The accumulation of contaminant by organisms from all routes of exposure.

The process by which certain metals and chemical levels in the tissue of organisms increase with higher standing in the food chain.

the process in which chemical substances are ingested and retained by organisms

The absorption, via breathing, eating, drinking or active uptake, and concentration of a substance in plants or animals.

The process in and by which chemical substances are accumulated in living organisms.

The buildup of certain chemicals within tissues and organs of the body.

The process where chemical substances from water or food build up in an organism.

the process by which animals accumulate quantities of a substance by consuming organisms that have ingested that substance (such as toxins from waste products).

Build up of toxic substances in fish flesh. Toxic effects may be passed on to humans eating the fish.

a buildup in the body of foreign substances.

The biological sequestering of a substance at a higher concentration than that at which it occurs in the surrounding environment or medium. Also, the process whereby a substance enters organisms through the gills, epithelial tissues, dietary, or other sources.

An increase in concentration in living organisms as they take in contaminated air, water, or food because the substances are very slowly metabolized and/or excreted.

(4) a process of concentration or accumulation of an element within a "food chain" of organisms.

Occurs when a substance is assimilated into an organism through eating another organism (plant or animal). Depending on the substance, it may be passed through the body fairly quickly or it may accumulate (concentrate) in certain tissues or organs. Small animals bioaccumulate toxic substances, for example, by feeding on smaller organisms, and as they in turn are eaten by larger animals, they pass the absorbed contaminants along to the next higher level in the food web.

The net accumulation of a substance by an organism from all environmental sources (ASTM, 2002).

Process by which chemical are accumulated in biota with levels increasing up the food chain (i.e. small animals and plants take up toxicants from the waters, and when they are eaten by other animals, the toxicants move up the food chain with higher concentrations being found in higher predators).

the process by which plants or animals retain chemical pollutants in their tissues at levels greater than in the environment in which they live

The process by which a contaminant accumulates in the tissues of an individual organism. For example, certain chemicals in food eaten by a fish tend to accumulate in its liver and other tissues.

The increase in concentration of a particular substance in a living organism, possibly with harmful effects.

Accumulation by organisms of contaminants by ingestion or from contact with the skin or respiratory tissue.

The process whereby certain toxic substances collect in living tissues, thus posing a substantial hazard to human health or the environment.

Bioaccumulation is the process by which chemicals concentrate in an organism. For example, DDT concentrates in fish and birds that eat fish. This concentration effect is expressed as the ratio of the concentration of the chemical in an organism (like a fish) to its concentration in the surrounding medium (usually water). Bioaccumulation refers to the uptake of chemicals both from water (bioconcentration) and from ingested food and sediment.

the net accumulation of a substance by an organism as a result of uptake from all environmental sources. As an organism ages, it can accumulate more of these substances, either from its food or directly from the environment. Bioaccumulation of a toxic substance has the potential to cause harm to organisms, particularly to those at the top of the food chain.

Bioaccumulation is the buildup or storage of substances (such as contaminants) in the bodies of animals over time. Bioaccumulation takes place through eating other animals and drinking water containing these contaminants. Contaminants that bioaccumulate either do not change or are very slow to change into a form that can be digested and eliminated by the animal.

The accumulation of a chemical by organisms of a single species from water directly or through consumption of food containing the chemical.

The process by which organisms absorb chemicals or elements directly from their environment.

The accumulation of a xenobiotic chemical in a tissue or organ to levels higher than in surrounding tissues or in the environment.

Progressive increase in the amount of a substance in an organism or part of an organism which occurs because the rate of intake exceeds the organism's ability to remove the substance from the body. PS bioconcentration, biomagnification.

Toxic substances that increase in concentration in the tissues and organisms of living organisms as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food. These substances are very slowly metabolized or excreted.

the process which results in increasing body burdens of recalcitrant non-water soluble compounds as they move up the food chain.

The storage or accumulation of materials in the tissues of living organisms.

The buildup of contaminants in an organism's tissues (usually fatty tissue) through ingestion, or contact with the skin or respiratory tissue. Contaminants that bioaccumulate may also biomagnify in the food web, resulting in higher tissue concentrations in predators relative to ambient environmental concentrations.

Food chain is the sequence of algae being eaten by small aquatic animals (zooplankton) which in turn are eaten by small fish which are then eaten by larger fish and eventually by people or predators. Certain chemicals, such as PCBs mercury, and some pesticides, can be concentrated from very low levels in the water to toxic levels in animals through this process.

The uptake and retention of contaminants by an organism from its environment.

an increase of a chemical in specific organs or tissues at a higher level than would normally be expected. Compare with biomagnification.

The uptake and storage of substances from the environment by animals and plants over time. A number of pollutants (see persistent organic pollutants) may be stored for years in our body fat and may be discharged in breast milk.

Bioaccumulation is the general term describing a process by which certain chemicals are taken up by a plant or animal either directly from exposure to a contaminated medium (soil, sediment, water) or by eating food containing the chemical. Compounds of a certain type can accumulate in living things when they are taken up and stored faster than they are broken down (metabolized) or excreted. Certain compounds are easily broken down and do not bioaccumulate. Related terms are bioconcentration and biomagnification.

The retention and concentration of a substance by an organism.

General term describing a process by which chemical substances are ingested and retained by organisms, either from the environment directly or through consumption of food containing the chemicals.

the accumulation of chemicals by living organisms through the food chain.

Absorption and storage of toxic chemicals from the environment in an organism, usually in body fat.

To bioaccumulate literally means to accumulate in a biological system. However, it is commonly taken to measure the uptake over time of a substance, called a bioaccumulant, that can accumulate in a biological system.