l Biological Magnification
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I. Toxic chemicals accumulate in organisms as they feed on one another.
A. Bioaccumulation
1. Organisms absorb, breathe, and ingest toxic substances from their environments.
2. Each step of the food chain magnifies the concentration levels.
B. Biological Magnification
Examples
A. DDT – Pesticides (1972)
B. Methlymercury (Mercury) – Coal Burning
C. HCB’s – Fungicide (1966)
D. PCB’s – Coolant (1979)