biomagnification
Food chain amplification
Biomagnification is the increasing concentration of a substance as it moves up a food chain.
When small organisms absorb toxins that don't break down, predators accumulate higher doses by eating many contaminated prey.
Top predators end up with the highest concentrations: DDT biomagnification nearly wiped out bald eagles.
The process explains why mercury warnings target large fish like tuna.
Banned chlorinated insecticide
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
- PCBsBanned synthetic toxins
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
- heavy metalsDense metallic environmental contaminants
dioxins · lead · methylmercury · flame retardants · industrial chemicals · cadmium · selenium · PFAS
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
- marine mammalsWarm-blooded ocean animals
- raptorsCarnivorous birds of prey
- orcasLarge predatory dolphins
- eaglesLarge predatory birds
tuna · sharks · seals · dolphins · pelicans · cormorants · osprey · polar bears
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- transferMove between locations
uptake · ingestion · absorption · lipid-soluble · fat-soluble · lipophilic · biomagnify · accumulate
Amount causing death
- chronic exposureRepeated long-term contact
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- neurotoxicDamaging to nervous system
immunotoxic · safe limits · health effects · dose-response · risk assessment · environmental monitoring
DDT
Banned chlorinated insecticide
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
- PCBsBanned synthetic toxins
- pesticidesChemicals destroying harmful organisms
heavy metals · dioxins · lead · methylmercury · flame retardants · industrial chemicals · cadmium · selenium · PFAS · chlordane
apex predators
Dominant hunters, no natural enemies
- marine mammalsWarm-blooded ocean animals
- raptorsCarnivorous birds of prey
- orcasLarge predatory dolphins
eagles · tuna · sharks · seals · dolphins · pelicans · cormorants · osprey · polar bears · population decline
food chain
Ecological feeding hierarchy
- bioaccumulationPollutant concentration in tissues
- concentrationSustained single-minded attention
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
transfer · uptake · ingestion · absorption · lipid-soluble · fat-soluble · lipophilic · biomagnify · accumulate · sequential
lethal dose
Amount causing death
- chronic exposureRepeated long-term contact
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
neurotoxic · immunotoxic · safe limits · health effects · dose-response · risk assessment · environmental monitoring
- Toxicspoison, poisons, toxins, toxicity, carcinogens
- food websfood web, food chain, food chains, producer, consumer
- bioaccumulationbioaccumulation, POPs, heavy metals, methylmercury, DDT
- Ecotoxicologytoxicology, bioassay, LD50, dose-response, lethal dose
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs
- Natural Processesphotosynthesis, decomposition, evaporation, erosion, carbon cycle
biomagnificationbiodegradation
Microbial breakdown of organics
biotransformation · excretion · elimination · detoxification · depuration