Editing Bioaccumulation (section)

{{Short description|Gradual buildup of substances in an organism}}
{{use dmy dates |date=August 2021}}
'''Bioaccumulation''' is the gradual accumulation of substances, such as [[pesticides]] or other chemicals, in an organism.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Alexander|title=Environmental Geology|year=1999|isbn=978-0-412-74050-3|series=Encyclopedia of Earth Science|pages=43–44|chapter=Bioaccumulation, bioconcentration, biomagnification|doi=10.1007/1-4020-4494-1_31}}</ref>  Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance faster than it can be lost or eliminated by [[catabolism]] and [[excretion]]. Thus, the longer the [[biological half-life]] of a [[Toxin|toxic substance]], the greater the risk of chronic [[poisoning]], even if [[Measured environmental concentration|environmental level]]s of the toxin are not very high.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2418066|jstor=2418066|title=Bioaccumulation of Marine Pollutants &#91;and Discussion&#93;|last1=Bryan|first1=G. W.|last2=Waldichuk|first2=M.|last3=Pentreath|first3=R. J.|last4=Darracott|first4=Ann|journal=Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences|year=1979|volume=286|issue=1015|pages=483–505|bibcode=1979RSPTB.286..504W }}</ref> Bioaccumulation, for example in [[fish]], can be predicted by models.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/es2043728|title=Predicting Concentrations of Organic Chemicals in Fish by Using Toxicokinetic Models|year=2012|last1=Stadnicka|first1=Julita|last2=Schirmer|first2=Kristin|last3=Ashauer|first3=Roman|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=46|issue=6|pages=3273–3280|pmid=22324398|pmc=3308199|bibcode=2012EnST...46.3273S}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1016/j.envsoft.2009.08.009|title=Dynamic multi-compartmental modelling of metal bioaccumulation in fish: Identifiability implications|year=2010|last1=Otero-Muras|first1=I.|last2=Franco-Uría|first2=A.|last3=Alonso|first3=A.A.|last4=Balsa-Canto|first4=E.|journal=Environmental Modelling & Software|volume=25|issue=3|pages=344–353|bibcode=2010EnvMS..25..344O }}</ref> Hypothesis for molecular size cutoff criteria for use as bioaccumulation potential indicators are not supported by data.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1897/IEAM_2009-051.1|title=Molecular Size Cut-Off Criteria for Screening Bioaccumulation Potential: Fact or Fiction?|year=2007|last1=Arnot|first1=Jon A.|last2=Arnot|first2=Michelle|last3=MacKay|first3=Donald|last4=Couillard|first4=Yves|last5=MacDonald|first5=Drew|last6=Bonnell|first6=Mark|last7=Doyle|first7=Pat|journal=Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management|volume=6|issue=2009|pages=210–224|pmid=19919169|doi-access=free}}</ref> [[Biotransformation]] can strongly modify bioaccumulation of chemicals in an organism.<ref>{{cite journal |doi=10.1021/es204611h|title=Significance of Xenobiotic Metabolism for Bioaccumulation Kinetics of Organic Chemicals in Gammarus pulex|year=2012|last1=Ashauer|first1=Roman|last2=Hintermeister|first2=Anita|last3=o'Connor|first3=Isabel|last4=Elumelu|first4=Maline|last5=Hollender|first5=Juliane|last6=Escher|first6=Beate I.|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|volume=46|issue=6|pages=3498–3508|pmid=22321051|pmc=3308200|bibcode=2012EnST...46.3498A}}</ref>

Toxicity induced by metals is associated with bioaccumulation and [[biomagnification]].<ref name=":1">{{Citation|last1=Blowes|first1=D. W.|title=9.05 - The Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage|date=2003-01-01|url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B0080437516091374|work=Treatise on Geochemistry|pages=149–204|editor-last=Holland|editor-first=Heinrich D.|place=Oxford|publisher=Pergamon|language=en|doi=10.1016/b0-08-043751-6/09137-4|isbn=978-0-08-043751-4|access-date=2021-02-17|last2=Ptacek|first2=C. J.|last3=Jambor|first3=J. L.|last4=Weisener|first4=C. G.|editor2-last=Turekian|editor2-first=Karl K.|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Storage or uptake of a metal faster than it is metabolized and excreted leads to the accumulation of that metal.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Gaion A, Sartori D, Scuderi A, Fattorini D |date=2014 |title=Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic compounds in Hediste diversicolor (Muller 1776) after exposure to spiked sediments|url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11356-014-2538-z|journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research |volume=21 |issue=9 |pages=5952–5959|doi=10.1007/s11356-014-2538-z|pmid=24458939 |bibcode=2014ESPR...21.5952G |s2cid=12568097 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The presence of various chemicals and harmful substances in the environment can be analyzed and assessed with a proper knowledge on bioaccumulation helping with chemical control and usage.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopedia of toxicology|date=2014|editor=Philip Wexler|isbn=978-1-78402-845-9|edition=Third |location=London |oclc=878141491}}</ref>

An organism can take up chemicals by breathing, absorbing through skin or swallowing.<ref name=":1" /> When the concentration of a chemical is higher within the organism compared to its surroundings (air or water), it is referred to as [[bioconcentration]].<ref name=":0" /> Biomagnification is another process related to bioaccumulation as the concentration of the chemical or metal increases as it moves up from one [[trophic level]] to another.<ref name=":0" /> Naturally, the process of bioaccumulation is necessary for an organism to grow and develop; however, the accumulation of harmful substances can also occur.<ref name=":1" />