Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other chemicals, in an organism.[1] Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance faster than it can be lost or eliminated by catabolism and excretion. Thus, the longer the biological half-life of a toxic substance, the greater the risk of chronic poisoning, even if environmental levels of the toxin are not very high.[2] Bioaccumulation, for example in fish, can be predicted by models.[3][4] Hypothesis for molecular size cutoff criteria for use as bioaccumulation potential indicators are not supported by data.[5] Biotransformation can strongly modify bioaccumulation of chemicals in an organism.[6]

Toxicity induced by metals is associated with bioaccumulation and biomagnification.[7] Storage or uptake of a metal faster than it is metabolized and excreted leads to the accumulation of that metal.[8] The presence of various chemicals and harmful substances in the environment can be analyzed and assessed with a proper knowledge on bioaccumulation helping with chemical control and usage.[9]

An organism can take up chemicals by breathing, absorbing through skin or swallowing.[7] When the concentration of a chemical is higher within the organism compared to its surroundings (air or water), it is referred to as bioconcentration.[1] Biomagnification is another process related to bioaccumulation as the concentration of the chemical or metal increases as it moves up from one trophic level to another.[1] Naturally, the process of bioaccumulation is necessary for an organism to grow and develop; however, the accumulation of harmful substances can also occur.[7]

  1. ^ a b c Alexander (1999). "Bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, biomagnification". Environmental Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. pp. 43–44. doi:10.1007/1-4020-4494-1_31. ISBN 978-0-412-74050-3.
  2. ^ Bryan, G. W.; Waldichuk, M.; Pentreath, R. J.; Darracott, Ann (1979). "Bioaccumulation of Marine Pollutants [and Discussion]". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 286 (1015): 483–505. Bibcode:1979RSPTB.286..504W. JSTOR 2418066.
  3. ^ Stadnicka, Julita; Schirmer, Kristin; Ashauer, Roman (2012). "Predicting Concentrations of Organic Chemicals in Fish by Using Toxicokinetic Models". Environmental Science & Technology. 46 (6): 3273–3280. Bibcode:2012EnST...46.3273S. doi:10.1021/es2043728. PMC 3308199. PMID 22324398.
  4. ^ Otero-Muras, I.; Franco-Uría, A.; Alonso, A.A.; Balsa-Canto, E. (2010). "Dynamic multi-compartmental modelling of metal bioaccumulation in fish: Identifiability implications". Environmental Modelling & Software. 25 (3): 344–353. Bibcode:2010EnvMS..25..344O. doi:10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.08.009.
  5. ^ Arnot, Jon A.; Arnot, Michelle; MacKay, Donald; Couillard, Yves; MacDonald, Drew; Bonnell, Mark; Doyle, Pat (2007). "Molecular Size Cut-Off Criteria for Screening Bioaccumulation Potential: Fact or Fiction?". Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management. 6 (2009): 210–224. doi:10.1897/IEAM_2009-051.1. PMID 19919169.
  6. ^ Ashauer, Roman; Hintermeister, Anita; o'Connor, Isabel; Elumelu, Maline; Hollender, Juliane; Escher, Beate I. (2012). "Significance of Xenobiotic Metabolism for Bioaccumulation Kinetics of Organic Chemicals in Gammarus pulex". Environmental Science & Technology. 46 (6): 3498–3508. Bibcode:2012EnST...46.3498A. doi:10.1021/es204611h. PMC 3308200. PMID 22321051.
  7. ^ a b c Blowes, D. W.; Ptacek, C. J.; Jambor, J. L.; Weisener, C. G. (1 January 2003), Holland, Heinrich D.; Turekian, Karl K. (eds.), "9.05 - The Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage", Treatise on Geochemistry, Oxford: Pergamon, pp. 149–204, doi:10.1016/b0-08-043751-6/09137-4, ISBN 978-0-08-043751-4, retrieved 17 February 2021
  8. ^ Gaion A, Sartori D, Scuderi A, Fattorini D (2014). "Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic compounds in Hediste diversicolor (Muller 1776) after exposure to spiked sediments". Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 21 (9): 5952–5959. Bibcode:2014ESPR...21.5952G. doi:10.1007/s11356-014-2538-z. PMID 24458939. S2CID 12568097.
  9. ^ Philip Wexler, ed. (2014). Encyclopedia of toxicology (Third ed.). London. ISBN 978-1-78402-845-9. OCLC 878141491.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)