bioaccumulatev.
/ˌbʌɪəʊəˈkjuːmjᵿleɪt/, U.S. /ˌbaɪoʊəˈkjum(j)əˌleɪt/ Environmental Science.
1. transitive. Of an organism: to accumulate (a chemical) in its tissues, rather than decomposing or excreting it. Cf. bioconcentrate v. 2, biomagnify v. 2. Also in passive.
ΚΠ
1971 Proc. Royal Soc. B. 177 333 These latter materials are readily bio-accumulated.
1986 Environm. Toxicol. & Chem. 5 941 The potential of Eichornia for removing heavy metals from wastewaters is demonstrated by its tremendous capacity to bioaccumulate copper.
2007 Sydney Morning Herald (Nexis) 5 Oct. 4 4 Given that the Australian fur seals and little penguins are predators that feed locally in Bass Strait, they are likely to bioaccumulate contaminants.
2. intransitive. Of a (toxic) chemical: to accumulate in the tissues of an organism, or in a specific environment, food chain, etc. Cf. bioconcentrate v. 1, biomagnify v. 1.
ΚΠ
1973 J. M. Norris et al. in M. A. Golub & J. A. Parker Polymeric Materials Unusual Service Conditions 207 The results of the metabolism study further suggest that DBDPO does not have the potential of OBBP to bioaccumulate.
1986 Regulatory Toxicol. & Pharmacol. 6 11 PCBs are known to be environmentally persistent and to bioaccumulate.
1990 Earth Matters Summer 12/1 Mercury is a poison that can ‘bioaccumulate’.
2005 C. Mendelson Laundry i. xii. 177 Some say that the majority of the small fraction of AOX attributable to household bleach readily biodegrade, are water-soluble, and do not bioaccumulate.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
v.1971