Biomagnification 1

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[BIOMAGNIFICATION]
ANJANA KAVERI
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BIO MAGNIFICATION
INTRODUCTION:
Bio magnification is the increase in the concentration
of the substance such as pesticide DDT, mercury (Hg)
that occurs in a food chain as a result of persistence
(contaminants that cannot be broken down by
environmental processes), food chain energetics, low
rate of internal degradation or excretion of substance.
In the mid of the 20th century many know species like

predatory fish such as Swordfish and Sharks or birds
like Osprey and Eagles, even the Crop Plants became extinct &
some have been banned to be taken as food by National
Governments due to the presence of high concentration of
substances, such as Pesticide, DDT (dichloro diphenyl trichloro
ethane), POPs (Persistent Organic
Pollutants), PCBs(polychlorinated
biphenyls), Toxaphene, Monomethylmercury & Inorganic
Metals like Arsenic, Cadmium, Mercury Etc.
Biological magnification often refers to the process whereby
certain substances such as pesticides or heavy metals move
up the food chain, work their way into rivers or lakes, and are
eaten by aquatic organisms such as fish, which in turn are
eaten by large birds, animals or humans. The substances
become concentrated in tissues or internal organs as they
move up the chain. Bioaccumulants are substances that
increase in concentration in living organisms as they take in
contaminated air, water, or food because the substances are
very slowly metabolized or excreted.
This means lower trophic levels generally have smaller concentrations of
contaminants than higher levels. This occurs because of
the ecological inefficiency of food webs and persistent, hydrophobic
contaminants bioaccumulating in organisms. These two factors mean that
each trophic level has a larger concentration of contaminants dissolved in a
smaller amount of biomass than the previous level. Each trophic level
becomes more contaminated than those below it. For example, DDT in the
Lake Ontario food web is biomagnified up the food web, so that top
predators like herring gulls have tissue concentrations that are 630 times
greater than primary consumers like zooplankton.
Dolphins have been studied by Japanese researchers as a model species for
biomagnification because their migratory routes are known, they live in
relatively unpolluted waters, and they live a long time (20-50 years). DDT
has been found in dolphin blubber in greater concentrations (100 times
greater than sardines) than would be expected given the small
concentrations present in the water and in sardines, their favorite food.
These unexpectedly large concentrations are the result of DDT
biomagnification up the food web.
Biomagnification has serious consequences for all species. It is particularly
dangerous for predator species especially if they are at the top of long food
webs. Predators are usually at or near the top of their food web. This puts
them at risk because the degree of biomagnification is high by the time it
reaches their trophic level. Also, top predators usually consume large
quantities of meat which has lots of fatty tissue and contaminants. Polar
bears, humans, eagles, and dolphins are examples of top predators, and all
of these organisms are vulnerable to the effects of biomagnification.
Predators that consume large amounts of fish also have a high degree of
risk because persistent hydrophobics are widely dispersed in aquatic food
webs and are biomagnified in fish.
2. SOME HEAVY METALS:
MURCURY POLLUTION: High mercuy levels found in tuna sushi
Coal-fired electric power plants release mercury into the atmosphere where themercury is
absorbed and converted in aquatic environments to methylmercury. Methylmercury is a
“bioaccumulative environmental toxicant” that is easily absorbed and highly toxic. Since it is highly
absorbed and has a cumulative effect, methylmercury is magnified through the food chain by a
process calledbioaccumulation, and the results of this bioaccumulation can be found in certain types
of sushi. Therefore, methylmercury, which is classified as a neurotoxin, can be easily passed to
the consumer and their unborn children.
CADMIUM IN AQUATIC FOOD CHAINS
We surveyed papers until 2000 on recent findings of cadmium accumulation in

biota with special focus on any indication of biomagnification along aquatic food
webs, that might evoke concerns with respect to toxicity for higher levels of the
food web and to harmful effects on humans. Biomagnification sensu strictu
means accumulation from food, whereas the food chain effect refers to
the transfer of Cd through the food web. Bioconcentration, i.e. the accumulation
from the surrounding medium, in some lower trophic levels forms the basis of any
biomagnification or food chain effect. It depends on various abiotic and biotic
properties and is not dealt with in the present paper.
In freshwater and marine systems, the phytoplankton and periphyton ("biofilm") as

well as macrophytes and macroalgae, respectively, are reported to accumulate Cd
to a high extent from the surrounding medium with bioconcentration factors, BCF,
up to 4 orders of magnitude. However, substantial amounts (up to about 60%) were
found to be adsorbed to the outer surface of the plants. An additional source of
cadmium at the base of the food chain is the sediment, to which Cd adsorbes
readily and which is consumed by detritivorous organisms.
Herbivors and detritus feeders (e.g. zooplankton, mollusks) have been shown to
accumulate Cd in similar amounts (BCFs up to 4 orders of magnitude). As detritus
feeders ingest sediment particles containing microalgae, bacteria and funghi, one
cannot distinguish between uptake from abiotic or biotic sources. For herbivorous
and detritus feeding arthropods it was found that uptake of Cd from food plays a
minor role. As with plants adsorption and subsequent binding to the exoskeleton
plays an important role in the accumulation of non-essential heavy metals.
Although temporary accumulation of Cd will occur in these organisms, the
relatively strong binding to the exoskeleton and its regular loss due to molting
prevents marked bioaccumulation of Cd in organisms of subsequent trophic levels.
The zooplankton thus is seen as a breakpoint in the pelagic food chain transfer and
biomagnification of heavy metals.
The transfer of cadmium across trophic levels (from zooplankton to fish) has been
experimentally proven by radiotracer methods. However, the biomagnification of
Cd in fish is discussed controversially since cadmium contents in fishes were
found to be generally lower than in their prey organisms. Uptake from ingested
food is thus generally not considered as a significant source for metal accumulation
in fish, although many previous studies have indicated that food can indeed be a
major source for metal accumulation.
Nonetheless, Cd uptake by bioconcentration and food chain transfer in some

marine fish may lead to concentrations exceeding the critical body burden, so that
toxicity is likely to occur. The contaminated fish is the main source of heavy
metals for predating birds and mammals whose accumulation especially in the liver
may result in considerable body burdon. Cd biomagnification in fish eating birds
and mammals may result in Cd concentrations 20-30 fold higher than in the fish
consumed. Thus, the Cd concentration in marine fish may cause indirect poisoning
of predating organisms.
XENOBIOTIC COMPOUNDS
In greek xenos means strange and biotic means related to living beings .
A chemical (natural or man made) which is found in an organism but not
formally produced or expected to be there are called xenobiotic compounds
The xenobiotic compounds are:
1. persistent organic pollutants(POPs)
2. some heavy metals(Hg,Pb etc)
3. heavy isotopes
4. natural toxins(phytoplankton toxins)
5. alien harmones(sewage exposure)
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs):

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[Year]

[Type the company

In the mid of the 20th century many know species like

We surveyed papers until 2000 on recent findings of cadmium accumulation in

In freshwater and marine systems, the phytoplankton and periphyton ("biofilm") as

Nonetheless, Cd uptake by bioconcentration and food chain transfer in some

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs):

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