Bioakkumulatsioon

Bioakkumulatsioon, also known as bioaccumulation, is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism. This occurs when the rate of intake of a substance exceeds the organism's ability to remove it through catabolism and excretion. The substance can be absorbed through food, water, air, or other routes of exposure.

Over time, if the exposure is continuous, the concentration of the substance within the organism can reach levels that are toxic or harmful. Bioakkumulatsioon is particularly significant for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which break down very slowly in the environment and in living organisms. These chemicals can be stored in fatty tissues, leading to increasing concentrations over an organism's lifespan.

A related concept is biomagnification, where the concentration of these accumulating substances increases as they move up the food chain. Organisms at higher trophic levels consume prey that has accumulated these substances, leading to even higher concentrations in their own tissues. This process can result in top predators having significantly higher levels of bioaccumulated toxins than organisms lower down the food chain. Understanding bioakkumulatsioon is crucial for assessing the environmental and health risks associated with chemical pollution.