What term describes the process of a pesticide building up in the body tissues of animals?

The process of a pesticide building up in the body tissues of animals is known as bioaccumulation. This term refers to the accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, in the tissues of living organisms over time. When an organism is exposed to a pesticide through its environment, such as through soil or water, it can absorb the chemical faster than it can eliminate it. This leads to an increase in concentration of the pesticide within its biological tissues.

Bioaccumulation is particularly concerning for organisms that are at the top of the food chain, as they can accumulate higher concentrations of toxins from the organisms they consume. This can impact their health and the health of the ecosystems they are part of.

Other concepts like biodegradation refer to the breakdown of substances by biological organisms, while biomagnification describes the process where pesticide concentrations increase as one moves up the food chain. Chemical degradation involves the transformation of chemicals into simpler substances, which does not relate to how substances accumulate in body tissues. These distinctions underscore the importance of understanding bioaccumulation in the context of environmental health and pesticide use.