Pollution: Biological Magnification By: Karen Ramirez

What is biological Magnification? “The increase in concentration of a substance that occurs in a food chain.” meaning there is a strange substance introduced in a food chain.

What causes it? Persistence Low (or nonexistent) rate of internal degradation/excretion of the substance. Food chain energetic

1) Persistence can't be broken down by environmental processes

2) Low (or nonexistent) rate of internal degradation/excretion of the substance which means it has a property that doesn't allow the water to dissolve it

1) Food Chain energetic the way energy moves in the food chain. Meaning that the higher the organist is in the food chain, the more pollutant substance it has.

Negative affects on environment The higher up a food chain an organism is, the more toxins that accumulate in its body. a tertiary consumer will have a lot more toxins in its body than a primary consumer.

Examples DDT- dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan e An insecticide that is suctioned by soil and may end up in water. It is found in almost all human DNA and is mainly stored in body fat. It has been linked to: Diabetes Premature births Blocking of progesterone to receptors

Example PCB- Polychlorinated biphenyl Used as a dielectric in transformers, capacitors and electric motors. Human affects: Skin conditions Liver damage Yusho disease- irregular menstrual cycles, ocular (eye) conditions, and low immune response

Possible solutions 1. introducing natural predators of the pest into the environment 2. infusing plants with natural toxins that keep away problem causing organisms 3. use insect birth control 4. crop rotation

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