Bioaccumulation refers to the uptake and retention of contaminants by an organism, whereas biomagnification is the increase in contaminant concentrations at successive trophic levels, or steps in the food chain. Biomagnification, also called bioamplification, is an ecosystem-level process, whereas bioaccumulation refers to the accumulation of contaminants within individual organisms. Bioaccumulation differs from the related process of bioconcentration in the mode by which contaminants enter an organism’s body. In bioconcentration, contaminants are taken up exclusively through non-dietary pathways, primarily through respiration.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style