1. GURU NANAK INSTITUTE OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
TOPIC : BIOMAGNIFICATION
NAME OF THE STUDENT : ANIKSHA MAZUMDER
UNIVERSITY ROLL NUMBER: 31308421017
ACADEMIC SESSION : 2022-23
PAPER NAME: ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
PAPER CODE: CMc 302
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology
2. INTRODUCTION
B. Sc./ SEM 3/2022-23/ Environmental Microbiology/ CMc 302/Presentation_1
Biomagnification can be
defined as the rise or
increase in the
contaminated substances
caused by the intoxicating
environment. The
contaminants might be
heavy metals such as
mercury, arsenic, and
pesticides such as
polychlorinated biphenyls
and DDT.
3. B. Sc./ SEM 3/2022-23/ Environmental Microbiology/ CMc 302/Presentation_1
Causes of Biomagnificance
• AGRICULTURE-The agricultural pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers and fungicides are very toxic and are
released into the soil, rivers, lakes, and seas. These cause health issues in aquatic organisms and
humans.
• ORGANIC CONTAMINATION- Manures and biosolids are processed industrially and contain
contaminants like pharmaceuticals and personal care products. These substances have an adverse
impact on the health of humans, animals, and wildlife.
• INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES- The industries and factories release toxic substances that are released into the
soil, lakes, oceans, and rivers. The gaseous emissions pollute the environment which enters into the
food chain leading to biomagnification.
• MINING ACTIVITIES IN OCEAN – Mining activities are carried out in the deep seas to extract metal like
Zn, Al, Co, Ag. The mining process generates a large amount of sulphide and selenium. The level of
toxicity increased. These toxic substances are absorbed by aquatic org. higher in the food chain.
4. B. Sc. / SEM 3/2022-23/ /Environmental Microbiology/ CMc 302/Presentation_1
Eg. Pollutants in rivers or lakes
are taken up by microorganisms
like planktons and are eaten by
aquatic org. such as fish, which
is turn eayen by large birds,
animals and human. The
substances become
concentrated in tissues or
internal organs as they move up
the chain.
5. CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
B. Sc./ SEM 3/2022-23/ /Environmental Microbiology/ CMc 302/Presentation_1
Biomagnification, also known as bioamplification or biological magnification, is any concentration of
a toxin, such as pesticides, in the tissues of tolerant organisms at successively higher levels in a food
chain.
Biomagnification makes humans more prone to cancer, kidney problems, liver failure, birth defects,
respiratory disorders, and heart diseases. The toxic chemicals accumulate in the important organs
of aquatic organisms that affect their reproduction . The chemicals and toxins which are released
into the water bodies disrupt the food chain.
6. REFERENCE
B. Sc. / SEM 3/2022-23/ /Environmental Microbiology/ CMc 302/Presentation_1
PRINCIPLE OF MICROBIOLOGY – 5th edition, By Geeta Sumbali & Dr. R S Mehotra
