biokumulációnak

Biokumulációnak is a Hungarian term that translates to bioaccumulation in English. Bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides or other organic chemicals, in an organism. This occurs when the organism absorbs a substance faster than it can metabolize or excrete it. Over time, the concentration of the substance can increase within the organism's tissues.

This process is particularly significant for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are resistant to degradation. When these substances enter the environment, they can be absorbed by plants or animals. For example, fish can accumulate POPs from contaminated water or by consuming smaller organisms that have already absorbed the chemicals.

Bioaccumulation is a crucial concept in environmental science and toxicology because it can lead to biomagnification. Biomagnification occurs when the concentration of a substance increases as it moves up the food chain. Organisms at higher trophic levels consume many organisms from lower trophic levels, thereby accumulating a larger total amount of the substance. This can result in top predators, including humans, having significantly higher concentrations of these toxins in their bodies than organisms at the base of the food chain. Understanding bioaccumulation is therefore essential for assessing the risks associated with environmental contaminants.