Biological Magnification

Biological Magnification:

 The increase in the concentration of heavy metals (i.e., mercury) or organic contaminants (i.e., chlorinated hydrocarbons [CHCs])
in organisms as a result of their consumption within a food chain/web. Another term for this is BIOACCUMULATION. An excellent example is the process by which contaminants such as PCBs accumulate or magnify as they move up the food chain. For example, PCBs concentrate in tissue and internal organs, and as big fish eat little fish, they accumulate all the PCBs that have been eaten by everyone below them in the food chain.