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L4 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation is the buildup of chemicals in an organism over time. It becomes a concern when the substance is a pollutant like heavy metals or pesticides. Biomagnification is the increase in concentration of a pollutant from one trophic level to another in a food chain. Substances that bioaccumulate are typically long-lived, mobile, and fat soluble. DDT was a widely used pesticide that bioaccumulated and biomagnified up the food chain, becoming concentrated in birds and causing eggshell thinning. It breaks down very slowly and still persists in the environment over 100 years later. Other pollutants like PCBs, heavy metals, and cyanide also biomagnify through aquatic systems.

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896 views17 pages

L4 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

Bioaccumulation is the buildup of chemicals in an organism over time. It becomes a concern when the substance is a pollutant like heavy metals or pesticides. Biomagnification is the increase in concentration of a pollutant from one trophic level to another in a food chain. Substances that bioaccumulate are typically long-lived, mobile, and fat soluble. DDT was a widely used pesticide that bioaccumulated and biomagnified up the food chain, becoming concentrated in birds and causing eggshell thinning. It breaks down very slowly and still persists in the environment over 100 years later. Other pollutants like PCBs, heavy metals, and cyanide also biomagnify through aquatic systems.

Uploaded by

Vennise Ho
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Bioaccumulation

and
Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation

The gradual buildup, over


time, of a chemical in a LIVING
ORGANISIM
is essential for the growth and nurturing of
organisms (Eg. vitamins, minerals, essential fats,
amino acids).

becomes a concern when the substance involved


is a pollutant (heavy metals, pesticides)
Biomagnification

The buildup of
substances by
successive
trophic levels
The increase in
concentration of
a pollutant from
one link in the
food chain to
another
http://sciencelearn.org.nz/
Contexts/Toxins/Sci-
Media/Interactives/Bioacc
umulation-in-the-sea
Properties of substances that
bioaccumulate
The substance must be:
Long lived
Mobile
Fat soluble (typically)
Biologically active
A Classic Example: DDT
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
• Discovered in the 1930’s

• Inexpensive, broad-spectrum,
persistent chemical that was
extremely toxic to insects and
yet was not toxic to humans
and other mammals.
Uses of DDT
 DDT has rather low toxicity to humans

 DDT has a high toxicity to insects


 Disrupts insect nervous system
causing them to die.
 Disrupts insect reproduction limiting
their ability to have offspring.

 DDT is harmful to most animals


 In animals, harmful effects in
reproduction and in the nervous
system
 Causes shell-thinning in birds, in
particular carnivorous birds (raptors)
such as ospreys and bald eagles
Uses of DDT
Uses of DDT
Breakdown of DDT
Year Amount Remaining
0 100 kg
15 50 kg
30 25 kg
45 12.5 kg
60 6.25 kg
75 3.13 kg
90 1.56 kg
105 0.78 kg
120 0.39 kg
After 100 years, there will still be almost a kilogram of DDT in the environment!
Other Effects of DDT
Pesticide Resistance
Movie

 http://www.biocourse.com/mhhe/bcc/resources/concept.xsp?id=
000012091&type=MOVIE
Biomagnification of Other Pollutants

Substance Use and Problems


PCB’s  insulators in transformers
 Fire retardant
 Impairs reproduction
 Widespread in aquatic systems

Heavy Metals  Mercury from gold mining


Mercury, Copper, Cadmium,  Many from metal processing
Chromium, Lead, Nickel, Zinc,  May affect nervous system
Tin  May affect reproduction
Cyanide  Used in leaching of gold
 Used in fishing
 Toxic
Rachel Carson

"Man's attitude toward nature is today critically


important simply because we have now
acquired a fateful power to alter and destroy
nature. But man is a part of nature, and his war
against nature is inevitably a war against
himself…[We are] challenged as mankind has
never been challenged before to prove our
maturity and our mastery, not of nature, but of
ourselves."

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