What does it mean for a chemical to be bioaccumulative and give examples of persistent organic pollutants?

• A. Bioaccumulative means it builds up in an organism over time; examples of POPs include PCBs, DDT, dioxins, and mercury.
• B. Bioaccumulative means it evaporates quickly from the body.
• C. Bioaccumulative means it is never absorbed.
• D. Bioaccumulative means it is always biodegradable.

Answer: (A)

Bioaccumulation means a chemical is taken up by an organism faster than it is eliminated, so its concentration rises in the body over time, often concentrating in fatty tissues. Persistent organic pollutants are chemicals that persist in the environment, resist degradation, and can travel long distances, leading to accumulation in organisms and magnification up the food chain. Examples include PCBs, DDT, dioxins, and mercury. The other statements conflict with this idea: evaporation from the body would prevent buildup, never being absorbed rules out accumulation, and being biodegradable would mean the substance doesn’t persist to accumulate.