Abstract

ECOLOGICAL THREATS OF BIOMAGNIFICATION: INSIGHTS FROM RECENT STUDIES

Sunil Kumar* and Sahana V. M. Vats

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Abstract

Biomagnification is the increasing concentration of a substance like pesticides in organisms at higher levels of food chain. The contaminants might be heavy metals such as mercury, arsenics and pesticides such as polychlorinated biphenyls and DDT. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms and drivers of biomagnification and its impacts on ecologies and human populations. Differences in the chemical properties of contaminants (e.g., lipophilicity, persistence) and in environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, salinity), in combination with biological aspects related to organisms (e.g., trophic level, metabolic rate), are key factors influencing biomagnification. The ways in the which these factors interact complexly, to determine the extent and impart of biomagnification in different ecosystems. In ecological events, biomagnification can cause a loss of biodiversity, food web disruption and top predator populations to decline. Health problems in human are result of consumption of contaminated food in the food chain presenting with neurotoxic substances such as mercury and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These effects include neurological diseases, suppression of the immune system and susceptibility to cancer development especially among vulnerable populations. These include some regulations that prevent the release of pollutants, environmental monitoring programs to know contaminant concentrations, outreach programs so citizens to promote a sustainable consumption and research about emerging contaminants and alternative solutions. Controlling biomagnification needs a kind of multidisciplinary approach to conserve ecosystems, human health and sustainability. By understanding the impact on our health, decreasing the risks associated with biomagnification allows is to help develop environment resilience and improve public health outcomes.

Keywords: Biomagnification, contaminants, ecological impacts, human health, environmental pollution.