what is bioaccumulation and biomagnification

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification are two processes that result in the buildup of toxins within living organisms. Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which certain substances, such as toxins or pollutants, build up in the tissues of living organisms over time, resulting in a higher concentration in older individuals. Bioaccumulation occurs within a given trophic level, usually within primary producers like phytoplankton, and can occur by eating contaminated food or by absorption directly from water. Biomagnification, on the other hand, takes place as chemicals transfer from lower trophic levels to higher trophic levels within a food web, resulting in a higher concentration in apex predators. Biomagnification occurs between two given trophic levels and can continue all the way up the food web or chain. An example of biomagnification in action is the case of DDT, a pesticide that was widely used in the United States and other countries in the 1940s-1970s. When DDT was sprayed on water, it was absorbed by algae and passed on to small fish and other primary consumers. As these organisms were consumed by larger fish and other animals, the concentration of DDT increased in their bodies.