Bioamplification as a Bioaccumulation Mechanism for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in Wildlife

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutant bioaccumulation models have generally been formulated to predict bioconcentration and biomagnification. A third bioaccumulation process that can mediate chemical fugacity in an organism is bioamplification.Bioamplification occurs when an organism loses body weight and the chemical partitioning capacity occurs at a rate that is faster than the chemical can be eliminated.Although bioamplification has not been widely recognized as a bioaccumulation process, the potential consequences of this process are significant. Bioamplification causes an increase in chemical fugacity in the animal's tissues and results in there distribution of contaminants from inert storage sites to more toxicologically sensitive tissues. By reviewing laboratory and field studies, we have shown in this paper that bioamplification occurs across taxonomic groups that include, invertebrates,amphibians, fishes, birds, and mammals. Two case studies are presented, and constitute multi-life stage non-steady state bioaccumulation models calibrated for yellow perch and herring gulls. These case studies were used to demonstrate that bioamplification is predicted to occur under realistic scenarios of animal growth and seasonal weight loss. Bioamplification greatly enhances POP concentrations and chemical fugacities during critical physiological and behavioral events in an animal's life history, e.g., embryo development, juvenile stages, metamorphosis, reproduction, migration, overwintering, hibernation, and disease. Consequently,understanding the dynamics of bioamplification, and how different life history scenario scan alter tissue residues, may be helpful and important in assessing wildlife hazards and risks.

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins in marine organisms from the Pearl River Estuary in South China: Residue levels and interspecies differences

“…2). Growth dilution, spawning at a certain age, and movement could be possible causes for this phenomenon (Daley et al, 2014;Huertas et al, 2016).…”

Inverse correlation among organochlorine pesticide levels to total lipid serum contents: a preliminary study in Veracruz, México

“…As an example, bioamplification occur during weight loss events, but the extent of this effect depends on the rate of pesticide elimination and the loss of the partitioning capacity (De Roos et al 2012;Chevrier et al 2000;Hue et al 2006;Pelletier et al 2002). The process will be maximized for organochlorine pesticides showing hydrophobicity, because the process inversely correlates with chemical elimination and for pesticides that undergo little or no metabolic biotransformation (Daley et al 2014). This assumption correlates to the results of the current study, indicating that increases in levels of organochlorine pesticides released to serum from human fat deposits might be of concern, suggesting that mobility of fats and their metabolism could possibly cause the reaccumulation of organochlorine pesticides in fat deposits.…”

“…Also, another important factor is molecular size, that may simulate partitioning and diffusion processes in tissues containing lipids, affecting their tendency to bioconcentrate (Katagi 2010). Thereafter, the organochlorine pesticides enter the circulatory system and are transported through the lipid and lipoprotein components of blood serum and deposit in adipose tissue according to the partition coefficients between blood and adipose tissue lipids, which occurs on the people exposed (Daley et al 2014;Dirtu et al 2013;Malarvannan et al 2013;Herrero-Mercado et al 2011). It is considered that these lipophilic substances are in a state of equilibrium across body compartments: blood, fat, organs (Porta et al 2009).…”

“…Due to the lipophilic properties and resistance to the metabolic reactions, these pesticides are transported through the food chain with strong biomagnification at higher trophic levels (Daley et al 2014). Humans, being at the top of the food chain, accumulate and concentrate organochlorine pesticides in tissues and fluids rich in lipids, serving them as sensitive biomarkers of environmental pollution.…”

RESIDUOS DE PLAGUICIDAS EN TOMATE (Solanum lycopersicum) COMERCIALIZADO EN ARMENIA, COLOMBIA

“…Sin embargo, hasta ahora el conjunto de los plaguicidas analizados no ha cubierto toda la gama de ingredientes activos disponibles en el mercado y aplicados por los productores. Adicionalmente, se resalta el hecho de que los humanos, consecuente con su alimentación, acumulan, concentran y biomagnifican los residuos de plaguicidas en lípidos tisulares, fluidos corporales (16,17). Ahumada et.…”