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
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
Stephen K. Ritter
bioaccumulative
adjective
Persistent bioaccumulative pollutants pose the greatest chemical threat to sustainability.
—Science
Science
Examples of bioaccumulation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
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
And if that fish is consumed by another, the PFAS are moved up the food chain in a process known as bioaccumulation, Strom said.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2023
Through this process, called bioaccumulation, the heavy metals stick around and increase at each trophic level.
—Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 19 Oct. 2022
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
And if that fish is consumed by another, the PFAS are moved up the food chain in a process known as bioaccumulation, Strom said.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 14 Feb. 2023
Through this process, called bioaccumulation, the heavy metals stick around and increase at each trophic level.
—Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 19 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bioaccumulation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bioaccumulation
Cite this Entry
“Bioaccumulation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioaccumulation. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
bioaccumulation
noun
bio·ac·cu·mu·la·tion
ˌbī-ō-ə-ˌkyü-myə-ˈlā-shən
: the accumulation of a substance (as a pesticide) in a living organism
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