Alivia Allers

Bioaccumulation occurs when a chemical accumulates in a living organism, biomagnification  is the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of the ingestion of other plants or animals in which the toxins are present. A toxin (such as DDT) is introduced into the food chain and taken up by producers. As herbivores feed on the plants, they build up an accumulation. Then, carnivores feed on the herbivores, so they accumulate more, and so on. The top consumer has accumulated the most. DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was a pesticide used to fight malaria, typhus, and the other diseases caused by insects. It would be sprayed in large amounts in areas that needed insect control. DDT effected mostly bird species, such as Bald Eagles, because they prey on fish, that prey on small insects that become infected with this toxin. There have been many efforts to correct this issue in the United States, such as removing soil and contaminated dirt to help improve the health of insect larvae and earthworms found in underground environments.


Sources:

"DDT and Its Derivatives." Apps.who.int. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1989. Web.

"DDT and Its Derivatives." Apps.who.int. Geneva: World Health Organization, 1989. Web.