Which of the following can be part of bioaccumulation/biomagnification? (A)…

Concept: Bioaccumulation is the gradual build-up of a substance in an organism when uptake exceeds elimination. Biomagnification is the increase in that substance’s concentration at successive trophic levels of a food chain.

Substances that show these processes are typically persistent, resistant to metabolic breakdown, and sufficiently lipid-soluble to remain in biological tissues.

Application: Apply these properties to each listed material:

• Pesticides: some pesticides, especially persistent organochlorine pesticides, resist degradation and accumulate in fatty tissues.

• Volatile organic compounds: this broad class is defined by easy evaporation; volatility alone does not establish persistence through a food chain.

• Soot: soot is carbonaceous particulate matter. It can carry adsorbed pollutants, but the persistent organic chemical carried on it is distinct from the soot particle.

• Persistent organic pollutants: these chemicals resist degradation, remain in the environment, accumulate in organisms, and can become more concentrated at higher trophic levels.

Cross-check and contrast: The two listed categories that themselves include chemicals with the defining persistence and tissue-retention properties are Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants. Thus the matching choice is the pair containing Pesticides and Persistent Organic Pollutants.