How Does Bioaccumulation Occur

question 30

Multiple Choice

How does bioaccumulation occur?

• A)Toxins move up the food chain, so that predators ingest higher concentrations.
• B)Toxins do not break down and remain in the environment for long periods of time.
• C)Ingested toxins -that are slow to be metabolized and excreted - are instead stored in the body.
• D)Organisms are exposed to low doses of toxins over several years.

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Definitions:

Hydrophilic Functional Groups

Chemical groups attached to molecules that are attracted to water, making the molecule soluble in water.

Soluble

Capable of being dissolved in a solvent, typically referring to substances that can dissolve in water.

Oxygen Atoms

Fundamental particles that make up oxygen gas (O2), essential for cellular respiration and critical to life's biochemical processes.

Saturated Triacylglycerol

A type of fat molecule known as a triglyceride, where all carbon atoms in the fatty acid chains are saturated with hydrogen atoms, resulting in no double bonds.