Bioaccumulation is the net accumulation of chemicals in an organism from all exposure routes (water, food, sediment, air) when uptake exceeds elimination, leading to concentrations higher than in the surrounding environment. It is quantitatively characterized by metrics such as the bioaccumulation factor (BAF), which relates organism concentration to ambient concentration at steady state. Bioaccumulation is influenced by physicochemical properties of contaminants (e.g., hydrophobicity, persistence), organism traits (lipid content, metabolic capacity), and environmental conditions. It is a central topic in ecotoxicology and environmental risk assessment, particularly for persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) substances and contaminants of emerging concern.
The bioconcentration factor shows the concentration of chemical substances in fish as compared to the surrounding water. It is the standard measure for determining the bioaccumulation of chemicals in the environment.
Environment
Jan 13, 2026
0
14
A new UNSW-led global meta-analysis shows that PFAS concentrations can double at every step up the food chain, leaving top predators—and humans—potentially exposed to higher chemical loads.
Environment
Dec 22, 2025
0
111
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) begin to accumulate in the tissues of mammals already during the fetal stage, according to new research from the University of Oulu, Finland. The animal-model study found that environmental ...
Environment
Nov 26, 2025
0
24
With the continuous expansion of industrial and agricultural activities, the contamination of water bodies and soils by heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) has become a severe global environmental challenge. These ...
Ecology
Oct 29, 2025
0
21
One way people ingest a group of toxic chemicals known as PFAS is through consuming produce, dairy and meat products that have been exposed to contaminated soil and irrigation water. Some guidance is available on how growers ...
Ecology
Sep 18, 2025
1
25
Researchers from the UAB have shown that sex hormones accumulate in the skin of sharks. This finding opens a new way for the evaluation of their reproductive status by the biopsy of a sample that can be taken remotely in ...
Plants & Animals
Jun 19, 2025
0
23
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has this week released new data which tells us about the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Australians' bodies.
Environment
May 29, 2025
0
35
Mercury (Hg) is a naturally occurring element found across the globe, yet it becomes highly toxic as it accumulates up the food chain. Pollution from human activities has pumped increasing amounts of mercury into the atmosphere, ...
Earth Sciences
May 15, 2025
0
35
Sulfur applied to sugarcane crops in South Florida is flowing into wetlands upgradient of Everglades National Park, triggering a chemical reaction that converts mercury into toxic methylmercury, which accumulates in fish, ...
Environment
May 8, 2025
0
59
What if counteracting mercury contamination in waterways could be as simple as adding selenium? That proposition has gained traction among some scientists and governments, but new research from Cornell and the U.S. Geological ...
Environment
Apr 28, 2025
0
38
