bioaccumulation
noun
bio·ac·cu·mu·la·tion
ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-ə-ˌkyü-m(y)ə-ˈlā-shən
: 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
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