Many US states have local fish consumption advisories that recommend an upper co

Question

Many US states have local fish consumption advisories that recommend an upper consumption limit based on the size of the caught fish. For example, a state with DDT contamination issues in local lakes may recommend weekly consumption of no more than 4 ounces of a particular fish species (e.g., bass) measuring over 20 inches in length, but up to 8 ounces of the same species of fish measuring between 12 inches and 20 inches. Which of the following environmental fate and transport concepts are these types of fish consumption advisories based on?   

         Lipophilic tendancy

         Bioaccumulation

         Environmental persistence

         Environmental partitioning

         None of the above

         Lipophilic tendancy

         Bioaccumulation

         Environmental persistence

         Environmental partitioning

         None of the above

Explanation / Answer

These advisories are based on the concept of "Bioaccumulation".

Contaminants from the water body get dissolved in the tissues of the aquatic animals, and its concentration may be higher than the surrounding water.When the bigger aquatic animals eat the smaller ones which already have the contaminants in their body, the concentration of the contaminants in the body of the bigger animal increases further. Hence it is advisable to consume smaller quantities of bigger fish as the contaminant concentration would be higher in them.

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