bioaccumulate
by-oh-uh-KYOO-myuh-layt
/ˌbaɪ.oʊ.əˈkjuː.mjə.leɪt/
To accumulate or build up chemical toxins within the tissues of a living organism faster than they can be broken down or excreted.
Refers to progressive, internal biochemical absorption in living tissues across an organism's life cycle.
The story behind the word. Formed in late 20th-century toxicology by combining 'bio-' (life) with 'accumulate' (Latin 'accumulare', to heap up). It describes chemicals piling up inside living cells faster than metabolic excretion.
Word relationships
- build up: Build up is informal and general, while bioaccumulate is a precise biological term for tissue accumulation.
- excrete: To discharge waste matter from the biological body.
- eliminate: To process and purge chemical substances out of tissue.
Commonly confused with
- biomagnify: Bioaccumulate happens within a single organism over time; biomagnify happens up a food chain from prey to predator.
Word family
- bioaccumulation (noun): The accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, in an organism.
- bioaccumulative (adjective): Tending to accumulate in biological organisms.
Collocations
- bioaccumulate in tissue
- tendency to bioaccumulate
- bioaccumulate rapidly
Example sentences
- "Mercury tends to bioaccumulate in predatory marine fish over several years of hunting." Ecotoxicology
- "Chemical pesticides bioaccumulate in animal fat tissue, causing severe long-term organ damage." Pesticide study
Memory hook
BIO (living body) + ACCUMULATE (heap up) = toxins piling up in tissue. Toxins piling up inside a living creature.
When not to use
Do not use for non-living storage of trash in physical landfills or warehouses.
Fun facts
- Rachel Carson's famous 1962 book 'Silent Spring' highlighted how DDT bioaccumulated in songbirds, causing eggshell thinning that nearly eliminated bald eagles!
Related words
Explore more words
accumulation, accretion, overfish, cumulative, metabolism, accrue
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.