bioakkumulative

Bioakkumulative, sometimes written as bioaccumulative, is an adjective used to describe chemicals or substances that accumulate in living organisms over time, often exceeding the rate at which the organism eliminates them. This accumulation occurs through multiple exposure routes, including direct uptake from air, water, or soil, and through dietary intake. Substances that are persistent, lipophilic, and resistant to metabolic breakdown are most likely to be bioakkumulative.

Once inside an organism, such compounds can concentrate in tissues such as fatty tissues, liver, or bones. Their persistence and storage lead to internal concentrations higher than environmental levels, creating potential toxic effects and increasing exposure risks up the food chain (biomagnification).

Quantitative measures include the bioconcentration factor (BCF) and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), which compare tissue concentrations to water or all exposure sources, respectively. The concept is distinguished from biomagnification, which refers to increasing concentrations across trophic levels, often observed in predators higher in the food web.

Common examples of bioakkumulative substances include persistent organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and some chlorinated pesticides, and certain metals such as mercury in its methylated form. Public health and environmental policies aim to minimize releases of bioakkumulative chemicals, using regulatory instruments and monitoring programs.