8.8 Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

bioaccumulation

increase in concentration of a pollutant in an organism

biomagnification

increase in concentration of a pollutant in a food chain

* effects on top carnivores, thinning eggshells, reproductive malformities

human body systems affected

reproductive, nervous, and circulatory system issues

apex predators

suffer the greatest effects of these substances because bioaccumulation has concentrated the substance in their fatty tissues

human effects

* learning disabilities, kidney/liver dysfunction, damage to reproductive/circulatory/nervous systems, birth defects