Biomagnification, also known as
bioamplification or
biological magnification, occurs when the
concentration of a substance, such as
DDT or
mercury, in an organism exceeds the background concentration of the substance in its diet. This increase can occur as a result of:
- Persistence – where the substance can't be broken down by environmental processes
- Food chain energetics – where the substance concentration increases progressively as it moves up a food chain
- Low or non-existent rate of internal degradation or excretion of the substance – often due to water-insolubility