Statement I : Bioaccumulation is a process of progressive accumulation

Statement I :
Bioaccumulation is a process of progressive accumulation of heavy metals and pesticides in an organism.
Statement II :
Large fishes of the pond are found to have higher concentration of pesticides than planktons of the same pond.

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This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2018
Statement I is true. Bioaccumulation is defined as the gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism. This happens when the rate of intake of the substance exceeds the organism’s ability to remove it through metabolism or excretion. Statement II is also true. This phenomenon, where concentrations of substances like pesticides increase at successively higher levels in a food chain, is called biomagnification. Large fish are typically at higher trophic levels than plankton, and thus accumulate higher concentrations of persistent chemicals that are bioaccumulated by organisms at lower levels and passed up the chain. However, Statement II describes the *result* of bioaccumulation and biomagnification across a food chain, it does not explain the *process* of bioaccumulation (accumulation within a single organism) defined in Statement I. Therefore, Statement II is not the correct explanation for Statement I.
Bioaccumulation is the accumulation within one organism. Biomagnification is the increase in concentration of a substance as it moves up the food chain.
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals are common substances that undergo bioaccumulation and biomagnification, posing risks to organisms at higher trophic levels, including humans who consume contaminated fish or meat.
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