biomagnifikacj

Biomagnifikacja, also known as biomagnification, is the process by which the concentration of a chemical substance increases in successive trophic levels of a food chain. This phenomenon is most commonly observed with persistent organic pollutants like polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT, or heavy metals such as mercury and lead.

The mechanism relies on the fact that many of these toxicants are lipophilic, meaning they dissolve readily in fats and are difficult for organisms to excrete. When a low‑level contaminant is ingested by a primary consumer, it accumulates in the consumer’s tissues. Predators that feed on those consumers ingest even larger doses, and the concentration continues to rise up the food web.

Biomagnification can lead to significant ecological and human health risks. For example, top predators such as whales, eagles, and humans may exhibit toxic levels of mercury or organochlorines that are far higher than the levels found in the surrounding environment. In aquatic ecosystems, fish serving as fishery resources often contain contaminants at levels that prompt regulatory action or advisories for consumption.

Strategies to mitigate biomagnification include reducing or eliminating the release of persistent chemicals into the environment, habitat restoration projects that enhance biotransformation and degradation pathways, and monitoring programs that track contaminant levels in key species across trophic levels. Scientists continue to refine predictive models of biomagnification to better assess risk and inform policy decisions.