bioaccumulate

/ ˌbaɪəʊəˈkjuːmʊˌleɪt /

verb

1. (of substances, esp toxins) to build up within the tissues of organisms

Other Word Forms

• bioaccumulation noun

Example Sentences

Small fish including anchovies and sardines ingest the toxic algae, which then bioaccumulate in larger marine mammals that eat the fish.

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“There’s a layer of heavy metals now on the soil, and I don’t know what’s going to happen. Is it going to be washed away? Is it going to penetrate to the groundwater? Is it going to concentrate and bioaccumulate?” he said.

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“It’s really concerning when you think about flame retardants, because they’re known to bioaccumulate in our bodies,” she said.

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A group of fluorinated chemical compounds, they are resistant to degradation, bioaccumulate in tissues, and are highly mobile in the environment.

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Mercury is one of the most toxic elements in marine systems and can bioaccumulate and biomagnify through marine food webs.

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