Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a
toxic substance at a rate greater than that at which the substance is lost. Thus, the longer the biological
half-life of the substance the greater the risk of chronic poisoning, even if environmental levels of the toxin are very low.This is one reason why chronic poisoning is a common aspect of environmental health in the workplace. As people spend so much time, for so many years in these environments, very low levels of toxins can be lethal over time.An example of poisoning in the workplace can be seen from the phrase "as mad as a hatter". The process for stiffening the felt used in making hats involved
mercury, which forms organic species such as
methylmercury, which is lipid soluble, and tends to accumulate in the brain resulting in
mercury poisoning.
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Any contaminant of air, water, or food that builds up in living organisms because it is metabolized, or eliminated, very slowly.
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