bioaccumulation

noun

bio·​ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tion ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ə-ˌkyü-m(y)ə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce bioaccumulation (audio)
: the accumulation over time of a substance and especially a contaminant (such as a pesticide or heavy metal) in a living organism
bioaccumulate verb, transitive + intransitive
bioaccumulated; bioaccumulating; bioaccumulates
Oysters, like other bivalves, are sessile organisms that are continually filtering water, and they often bioaccumulate toxins … David C. Metzger
The chemical inertness of these compounds makes them useful for a variety of consumer and industrial products, but this property also means the compounds are persistent and can bioaccumulate. Stephen K. Ritter
bioaccumulative adjective
Persistent bioaccumulative pollutants pose the greatest chemical threat to sustainability. Science

Examples of bioaccumulation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
McDonough began by listing critical environmental concerns affecting human health that are caused by a variety of pollutants such as bioaccumulation, endocrine disruption, mutagenicity, reproductive toxicity and cancer. Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 18 June 2024 Abyssal microplastics appear to sink from the surface of the open ocean, and polystyrene particles increase the bioaccumulation of SSRIs in brine shrimp. Emily Harnett, Harper's Magazine, 26 Apr. 2024 Through the process of bioaccumulation in living organisms, PFAS chemicals and other micropollutants can build up over time, multiplying their harmful effects. Cameron Pugh, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2024 So killer whales are some of the most toxic mammals on the planet, period, because of this bioaccumulation. Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 5 Jan. 2024 As apex predators, killer whales are subject to countless threats including pollution, bioaccumulation of microplastics, food shortages, habitat shrinking, and climate change. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 29 Dec. 2023 Pollutants like these can become more prominent going up the food chain through a process called bioaccumulation. Devika Rao, The Week, 7 July 2023 Now Thompson is looking for other examples of bioaccumulation. Jeff Wheelwright, Discover Magazine, 6 Aug. 2017 This concept of bioaccumulation was later applied to other pollutants such as chemical pesticides. Catherine Meyers, Discover Magazine, 17 July 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bioaccumulation was in 1956

Dictionary Entries Near bioaccumulation

Cite this Entry

“Bioaccumulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioaccumulation. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

bioaccumulation

noun
bio·​ac·​cu·​mu·​la·​tion ˌbī-ō-ə-ˌkyü-myə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce bioaccumulation (audio)
: the accumulation of a substance (as a pesticide) in a living organism
bioaccumulate verb
bioaccumulated; bioaccumulating
bioaccumulative adjective
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