Biomagnification or biological magnification is the process by which certain chemicals accumulate in living organisms to a greater concentration than in the non-living environment.
Biomagnification can be defined as the rise or increase of contaminated substances as a result of an increasingly harmful environment. Heavy metals such as mercury, arsenic, and pesticides such as polychlorinated biphenyls and DDT may be the pollutants.
These chemicals are absorbed by organisms through their dietary consumption. When species higher in the food chain consume organisms lower in the food chain that have certain poisons, these toxins accumulate in the higher organisms.
These chemicals are absorbed by organisms through their dietary consumption. When species higher in the food chain consume organisms lower in the food chain that have certain poisons, these toxins accumulate in the higher organisms.
These chemicals are absorbed by organisms through their dietary consumption. When species higher in the food chain consume organisms lower in the food chain that have certain poisons, these toxins accumulate in the higher organisms.
Pesticides, insecticides, fertilisers, and fungicides used in agriculture are extremely harmful and are released into the soil, rivers, lakes, and oceans. These chemicals contain trace levels of mercury, arsenic, copper, lead, and cadmium, among other heavy metals. These are hazardous to the health of aquatic species and humans.
Industrially processed manures and biosolids contain medications and cosmetics. These chemicals harm humans, animals, and wildlife.
Industrial waste pollutes the soil, lakes, oceans, and rivers. Gaseous emissions contaminate the ecosystem, which feeds biomagnification.
Deep-sea mining extracts zinc, aluminium, cobalt, silver, and gold. The mining process generates a lot of selenium and sulphide, which harms oceans and coastlines.
Biomagnification increases the risk of cancer, renal, liver, birth defect, respiratory, and heart ailments.
Toxic substances accumulate in aquatic creatures' organs, affecting reproduction and development. Seabird eggs have thin shells that may be broken during incubation. Mercury and selenium harm aquatic reproductive organs.
Cyanide used in mining and fishing destroys coral reefs. Many aquatic species live and consume in coral reefs. Their destruction harms aquatic animals.
Released chemicals and poisons damage the food chain. Larger animals devour tiny organisms that absorb poisons. Higher-level organisms accumulate these poisons.