Abstract
The fate of environmental pollutants — the various isotopes of elements, and inorganic or organic compounds — is a fundamental aspect of ecology and ecotoxicology, and bioaccumulation is a phenomenon often discussed in this context. Human activities have drastically altered natural concentrations of many substances in the environment and added numerous new chemicals. An understanding of the processes of bioaccumulation is important for several reasons. 1) Bioaccumulation in organisms may enhance the persistence of industrial chemicals in the ecosystem as a whole, since they can be fixed in the tissues of organisms. 2) Stored chemicals are not exposed to direct physical, chemical, or biochemical degradation. 3) Stored chemicals can directly affect an individual's health. 4) Predators of those organisms that have bioaccumulated harmful substances may be endangered by food chain effects. While former theories on the processes of bioaccumulation focused on single aspects that affect the extent of accumulation (such as the trophic level within the food chain or the lipophilicity of the chemical), modern theories are based on compartmental kinetics and the integration of various environmental interactions. Concepts include results from quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR), pharmacokinetics, ecophysiology and general biology, molecular genetic aspects and selection, and finally the structure of communities and man-made alterations in them.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, D. H., Compartmental modeling and tracer kinetics, in: Lecture Notes in Biomathematics, vol. 50. Springer, Berlin 1983.
Atkins, G. L., Multicompartment Models for Biological Systems. Methuen, England 1969.
Banerjee, S., and Baughman, G. L., Bioconcentration factors and lipid solubility. Envir. Sci. Technol.25 (1991) 536–539.
Barber, M. C., Suárez, L. A., and Lassiter, R. R., Modeling bioconcentration of nonpolar organic pollutants by fish. Envir. Toxic. Chem.7 (1988) 545–558.
Baughman, G. L., and Paris, D. F., Microbial bioconcentration of organic pollutants from aquatic systems — a critical review. CRC Crit. Rev. Microbiol. (1982) 205–227.
Bischoff, K. B., Dedrick, R. L., Zaharko, D. S., and Longstreth, J. A., Methotrexate pharmacokinetics. J. pharm. Sci.60 (1971) 1128–1133.
Bruggeman, W. A., Martron, L. B. J. M., Kooiman, D., and Hutzinger, O., Accumulation and elimination kinetics of di-, tri- and tetra-chlorobiphenyls by goldfish after dietary and aqueous exposure. Chemosphere10 (1981) 811–832.
Bunck, C. M., Prouty, R. W., and Krynitsky, A. J., Residues of organochlorine pesticides and polychloribiphenyls in starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), from the continental United States, 1982. Envir. Monitoring Assessment8 (1987) 59–75.
Bungay, P. M., Dedrick, R. L., and Guarino, M., Pharmacokinetic modeling of the dogfish shark (Squalus acanthias): distribution and urinary and biliary excretion of phenol red and its glucuronide. J. Pharmacokinetics Biopharmaceutics4 (1976) 377–388.
Carson, E. R., Cobelli, C., and Finkelstein, L., The Mathematical Modeling of Metabolic and Endocrine Systems. John Wiley & Sons, New York 1983.
Caspers, N., and Schüürmann, G., Bioconcentration of xenobiotics from the chemical industry's point of view, in: Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Systems, p. 81–98. Eds R. Nagel and R. Loskill. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1991.
Chiou, C. T., Partition coefficients of organic compounds in lipidwater systems and correlations with fish bioconcentration factors. Envir. Sci. Technol.19 (1985) 57–62.
Cobelli, C., and Goffolo, G., Compartmental and noncompartmental models as candidate classes for kinetic modeling, theory and computational aspects, in: Mathematics and Computers in Biomedical Applications. Eds J. Eisenfeld and C. DeLisi. Elsevier Science Publishers B. V. (North-Holland), 1985.
Covell, D. G., Berman, M., and Charles, D., Mean residence time —theoretical development, experimental determination, and practical use in tracer analysis. Math. Biosci.72 (1984) 213–244.
Dedrick, R. L., and Bischoff, K. B., Species similarities in pharmacokinetics. Fedn Proc.39 (1980) 54–59.
Dost, F. H., Die Blutspiegel-Kinetik der Konzentrationsabläufe in der Kreislaufflüssigkeit. 244 pp. G. Thieme, Leipzig 1953.
Elster, H.-J., Definitionen, in: Bioakkumulation in Nahrungsketten, p. 78. Eds K. Lillelund, U. de Haar, H.-J. Elster, L. Karbe, J. Schwoerbel and W. Simonis. DFG-Forschungsbericht. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1987.
Erickson, R. J., and McKim, J. M., A model for exchange of organic chemicals at fish gills: flow and diffusion limitations. Aquatic Toxic.18 (1990) 175–198.
Fent, K., Lovas, R., and Hunn, J., Bioaccumulation, elimination and metabolism of triphenyltin chloride by early life stages of minnowsPhoximus phoxinus. Naturwissenschaften78 (1991) 125–127.
Forth, W., Henschler, D., and Rummel, W., Allgemeine und spezielle Pharmakologie und Toxikologie; 5. Aufl. BI Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim 1987.
Fukuto, T. R., Physico-organic chemical approach to the mode of action of organosphosphorous insecticides. Residue Rev.25 (1969) 327–339.
Geyer, H., Sheehan, D., Kotzias, D., Freitag, D., and Korte, F., Prediction of ecotoxicological behaviour of chemicals: relationship between physicochemical properties and bioaccumulation of organic chemicals in the mussel. Chemosphere11 (1982) 1121–1134.
Gobas, F. A. P. C., and Mackay, D., Dynamics of hydrophobic organic chemical bioconcentration in fish. Envir. Toxic. Chem.6 (1987) 495–504.
Guarino, A. M., and Anderson, J. B., Excretion of phenol red and its glucuronide in the dogfish shark. Xenobiotica6 (1976) 1–13.
Gunkel, G., and Streit, B., Mechanisms of bioaccumulation of a herbicide (atrazine, s-triazine) in a freshwater mollusc (Ancylus fluviatilis Müll.) and a fish (Coregonus fera Jurine). Water Res.14 (1980) 1574–1584.
Haggard, H. W., The absorption, distribution and elimination of ethyl ether. Part I–V. J. biol. Chem.59 (1924) 737–751, 753–770, 771–781, 783–793, 795–802.
Hammett, L. P., Some relations between reaction rates and equilibrium constants. Chem. Rev.17 (1935) 125–136.
Hammett, L. P., The effect of structure upon the reactions of organic compounds. Benzene derivatives. J. Am. chem. Soc.59 (1937) 96–103.
Hansch, C., and Fujita, T., ρ-σ-π analysis. A method for the correlation of biological activity and chemical structure. J. Am. chem. Soc.86 (1964) 1616–1626.
Hansch, C., Leo, A., and Taft, R. W., A survey of Hammett substituent constants and resonance and field parameters. Chem. Rev.91 (1991) 165–195.
Hansen, O. R., Hammett series with biological activity. Acta chem. scand.16 (1962) 1593–1600.
Hawker, D. W., and Connell, D. W., Bioconcentration of lipophilic compounds by some aquatic organisms. Ecotoxic. envir. Saf.11 (1986) 184–197.
Karara, A. H., and Hayton, W. L., Pharmacokinetic model for the uptake and disposition of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate in sheepshead minnowCyprinodon variegatus. Aquat. Toxic.5 (1984) 181–195.
Karickhoff, S. W., Brown, D. S., and Scott, T. A., Sorption of hydrophobic pollutants on natural sediments and soil. Water Res.13 (1979) 241–248.
Kenaga, E. E., and Goring, C. A., Relationship between water solubility, soil sorption, octanol-water partitioning and bioconcentration of chemicals in biota, in: Aquatic Toxicology, vol. 707. Eds J. G. Eaton et al. ASTM, Philadelphia 1980.
Kier, L. B., and Hall, L. H., Molecular Connectivity in Chemistry and Drug Design. Academic Press, New York 1976.
Kornmayer, R., and Streit, B., Adsorption und Anreicherung von Atrazin und seinen Abbauprodukten an Flußwassersediment. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl.55 (1978) 186–210.
Kuhn, K., and Streit, B., Lethal and sublethal effects of fenitrothion on species of the amphipodGammarus. Verh. Dt. zool. Ges.85 (1992) 27.
Lahouti, M., and Peterson, P. J., Chromium accumulation and distribution in crop plants. J. Sci. Food Agric.30 (1979) 136–142.
Lampert, W., A tracer study on the carbon turnover ofDaphnia pulex. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol.19 (1975) 2913–2921.
Lillelund, K., de Haar, U., Elster, H.-J., Karbe, L., Schwoerbel, J., Simonis, W., [Eds], Bioakkumulation in Nahrungsketten. DFG-Forschungsbericht. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1987.
Lutz, R. J., Dedrick, R. L., Mathews, H. B., Elkiung, T. E., and Anderson, M. W., A preliminary pharmacokinetic model for several chlorinated biphenyls in the rat. Drug Metab. Disposition5 (1977) 386–396.
Mackay, D., Correlation of bioconcentration factors. Envir. Sci. Technol.16 (1982) 274–278.
McKim, J. M., and Schmieder, P. K., Bioaccumulation: Does it reflect toxicity? in: Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Systems, p. 161–188. Eds R. Nagel and R. Loskill. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1991.
Müller, F., Insektizide, Akarizide und Nematizide, in: Schadwirkungen auf Pflanzen, p. 176–188. Eds B. Hock and E. F. Elstner. BI Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim 1988.
Müller, F., Fungizide, in: Schadwirkungen auf Pflanzen, p. 152–175. Eds B. Hock and E. F. Elstner. BI Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim 1988.
Nagel, A., Winter, St., and Streit, B., Residues of chlorinated hydrocarbons in six European bat species. Bat Res. News32 (1990) 20–21.
Nagel, R., Metabolismus von 14C Phenol beim Goldfisch (Carassius auratus), der Regenbogenforelle (Salmo gairdneri) und der Goldorfe (Leuciscus ideus melanotus): Thesis University Mainz 1981.
Nagel, R., Umweltchemikalien und Fische — Beiträge zu einer Bewertung. Habilitationsschrift, Univ. Mainz 1988.
Neely, W. B., Branson, D. R., and Blau, G. E., Partition coefficients to measure bioconcentration potential of organic chemicals in fish. Envir. Sci. Technol.8 (1974) 1113–1115.
Nendza, M., QSARs of bioconcentration: Validity assessment of log Pow/log BCF correlations, in: Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Systems, p. 43–66. Eds R. Nagel and R. Loskill. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1991.
Nieboer, E., and Richardson, H. S., The replacement of the nondescript term ‘heavy metals’ by a biologically and chemically significant classification of metal ions. Envir. Pollution (Series B)1 (1980) 3–26.
Nirmalakhandan, N., and Speece, R. E., Structure-activity relationships. Envir. Sci. Technol.22 (1988) 606–615.
Odum, H. T., Trophic structure and productivity of Silver Springs, Florida. Ecol. Monogr.27 (1957) 55–112.
Ogata, M., Fujisawa, K., Ogino, Y., and Mano, E., Partition coefficients as a measure of bioconcentration potential of crude oil compounds in fish and shellfish. Bull. envir. Contam. Toxic.33 (1984) 561–567.
Oliver, B. G., and Niimi, A., Bioconcentration of chlorobenzenes from water to rainbow trout: correlation with partition coefficients and environmental residues. Envir. Sci. Technol.17 (1983) 287–291.
Opperhuizen, A., Bioconcentration and biomagnification: is a distinction necessary? in: Bioaccumulation in Aquatic Systems, p. 67–80. Eds R. Nagel and R. Loskill. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1991.
Opperhuizen, A., Velde, E. W., van den, Gobas, F. A. P. C., Liem, D. A. K., and Steen, J. M. D. van den, Relationships between bioconcentration in fish and steric factors of hydrophobic chemicals. Chemosphere14 (1985) 1871–1896.
Ormerod, W. E., Hydrolysis of benzolylcholine derivatives by cholinesterase in serum. Biochem. J.54 (1953) 701–704.
Pearson, R. G., Hard and soft acids and bases. J. Am. chem. Soc.85 (1963) 3533–3539.
Piiper, J., and Scheid, P., Model analysis of gas transfer in fish gills, in: Fish Physiology, p. 229–262. Eds W. S. Hoar and D. J. Randall. Academic Press Inc., New York 1984.
Piiper, J., and Scheid, S., Model analysis of gas transfer in fish gills, in: Fish Physiology, vol. X, Gills. Academic Press, New York 1984.
Reeves, R. D., Macfarlane, R. M., and Brooks, R. R., Accumulation of nickel and zinc by western north American genera containing serpentine-tolerant species. Am. J. Bot.70 (1983) 1297–1303.
Siré, E.-O., and Streit, B., A multi-input-output linear system theory for pharmacokinetic and bioaccumulation of xenobiotics. J. theor. Biol., submitted (1992).
Södergren, A., and Svensson, Bj., Uptake and accumulation of DDT and PCB byEphemera danica (Ephemeroptera) in continuous-flow systems. Bull. envir. Contam. Toxic.9 (1973) 345–350.
Still, E. R., and Williams, R. J. P., Potential methods for selective accumulation of nickel(II)ions by plants. J. inorg. Biochem.13 (1980) 35–40.
Streit, B., Experimentelle Untersuchungen zum Stoffhaushalt vonAncylus fluviatilis (Gastropoda — Basommatophora). 2. Untersuchungen über Einbau und Umsatz des Kohlenstoffs. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl.48 (1975) 1–46.
Streit, B., Aufnahme, Anreicherung und Freisetzung organischer Pestizide bei bentischen Süßwasserinvertebraten. 1. Reversible Anreicherung von Atrazin aus der wässrigen Phase. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl.55 (1978) 1–23.
Streit, B., Uptake, accumulation and release of organic pesticides by benthic invertebrates. 2. Reversible accumulation of lindane, paraquat and 2,4-D from aqueous solution by invertebrates and detritus. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl.55 (1979) 324–348.
Streit, B., Uptake, accumulation and release of organic pesticides by benthic invertebrates. 3. Distribution of14C-atrazine and14C-lindane in an experimental 3-step food chain microcosm. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl.55 (1979) 374–400.
Streit, B., Untersuchungen zum Wasseraustausch mittels3H2O zwischen Süßwassertieren und ihrer Umgebung. Revue suisse Zool.87 (1980) 927–935.
Streit, B., Water turnover rates and half life times in animals studied by use of labelled and non-labelled water. Minireview. Comp. Biochem. Physiol.72 (1982) 445–454.
Streit, B., Effects of high copper concentrations on soil invertebrates (earthworms and orbatid mites): Experimental results and a model. Oecologia (Berlin)64 (1984) 381–388.
Streit, B., Chemikalien im Wasser: Experimente und Modelle zur Bioakkumulation bei Süßwassertieren, in: Limnologie aktuell, Band 1: Biologie des Rheins, p. 107–130. Eds R. Kinzelbach and G. Friedrich. G. Fischer, Stuttgart 1990.
Streit, B., Lexikon Ökotoxikologie. XIX+731 pp., Verlag Chemie, Weinheim 1991; korrigierter Nachdruck 1992.
Streit, B., Zur Ökologie der Tierwelt im Rhein. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft BAsel102 (1992) in press.
Streit, B., Kissner, R., and Sterf, B., Aufnahme und Proteinbindungen von Schwermetallen (Pb and Cd) in Süßwassermollusken (Ancylus fluviatilis). Verh. Dt. zool. Ges.80 (1987) 299–300.
Streit, B., Krüger, Ch., Lahner, G., Kirsch, S., Hauser, G., and Diehl, B., Aufnahme und Speicherung von Schwermetallen durch Regenwürmer in verschiedenen Böden. Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung2(1) (1990) 10–13.
Streit, B., and Schwoerbel, J., Experimentelle Untersuchungen über die Akkumulation von Herbiziden bei benthischen Süsswassertieren. Verh. Ges. Ökol. Göttingen 1976, 371–383.
Streit, B., Siré, E.-O., Kohlmaier, G. H., Badeck, F.-W., and Winter, St., Modelling ventilation efficiency of teleost fish gills for pollutants with high affinity to plasma proteins. Ecol. Modelling57 (1991) 237–262.
Streit, B., and Stumm, W., Chemical properties of metals and the process of bioaccumulation in terrestrial plants, in: Plants as Biomonitors for Heavy Metal Pollution of the Terrestrial Environment. Ed. B. Markert. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, New York 1992, in press.
Sunda, W. G., Trace metal interactions with marine phytoplankton. Biol. Oceanography6 (1991) 411–442.
Taft, R. W., The general nature of the proportionality of polar effects of substituent groups in organic chemistry. J. Am. chem. Soc.75 (1953) 4231–4238.
Teal, J. M., Community metabolism in a temperate cold spring. Ecol. Monogr.227 (1957) 283–302.
Thomann, R. V., Bioaccumulation model of organic chemical distribution in aquatic food chains. Envir. Sci. Technol.23 (1989) 699–707.
Trautmann, A., and Streit, B., Sorption von Lindan (gamma-Hexachlorcyclohexan) anNitzschia actinastroides (LEMM.) v. GOOR (Diatomeae) unter verschiedenen Wachstumsbedingungen. Arch. Hydrobiol., Suppl.55 (1979) 349–372.
Tulp, M. Th. M., and Hutzinger, O., Some thoughts on aqueous solubilities and partition coefficients of PCB, and the mathematical correlation between bioaccumulation and physico-chemical properties. Chemosphere10 (1978) 849–860.
Van Gestel, C. A. M., and Ma, W.-C., Toxicity and bioaccumulation of chlorophenols in earthworms, in relation to bioavailability in soil. Ecotoxic. envir. Saf.15 (1988) 289–297.
Veith, G. D., and Kosian, P., Estimating bioconcentration potential from octanol/water partition coefficients, in: Physical Behaviour of PCBs in the Great Lakes. Eds D. Mackay et al.. Ann Arbor Science Publishers, Ann Arbor 1983.
Wagner, J. G., Biopharmaceutics and Relevant Pharmacokinetics. Drug Intelligence Publications, Hamilton, Illinois, 1971.
Wallnöfer, P. R., and Engelhardt, G., Schadstoffe, die aus dem Boden aufgenommen werden, in: Schadwirkungen auf Pflanzen, p. 95–117. Eds B. Hock and E. F. Elstner. BI Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim 1988.
Wanner, O., Egli, Th., Fleischmann, Th., Lanz, K., Reichert, P., and Schwarzenbach, R. P., Behavior of the insecticides disulfoton and thiometon in the Rhine river: A chemodynamic study. Envir. Sci. Technol.23 (1989) 1232–1242.
Weyers, B., Die Bleibelastung der Amsel — Ursache, Dynamik, Anwendung. Thesis, Aachen 1989.
Widmark, E. M. P., and Tandberg, J., Über die Bedingungen für die Akkumulation indifferenter Narkotika (Theoretische Berechnungen). Biochem. Z.147 (1924) 358–369.
Winter, St., and Streit, B., Organochlorine compounds in a threestep terrestrial food chain. Chemosphere (1992) in press.
Woodwell, G. M., Toxic substances and ecological cycles. Sci. Am.216 (1967) 24–31.
Woodwell, G. M., Wurster, C. F. Jr, and Isaacson, P. A., DDT residues in an East Coast Estuary: A case of biological concentration of a persistent insecticide. Science156 (1967) 821–824.
Wright, Ph. J., and Weber, J. H., Biosorption of inorganic tin and methyltin compounds by estuarine macroalgae. Envir. Sci. Technol.25 (1991) 287–294.
Xue, H.-B., Stumm, W., and Sigg, L., The binding of heavy metals to algal surfaces. Wat. Res.22 (1988) 917–926.
Ziegler, H., Weg der Schadstoffe in der Pflanze, in: Schadwirkungen auf Pflanzen, p. 35–46. Eds B. Hock and E. F. Elstner. BI Wissenschaftsverlag, Mannheim 1988.
Zok, S., Görge, G., Kalsch, W., and Nagel, R., Bioconcentration, metabolism and toxicity of substituted anilines in the zebrafish (Brachydanio rerio). Sci. total Envir.109/110 (1991) 410–421.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Streit, B. Bioaccumulation processes in ecosystems. Experientia 48, 955–970 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01919142
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01919142