Bioaccumulation (also known as Bioconcentration, Bioconcentrations): An increase in the concentration of an exogenous substance in the tissues of organisms higher than surrounding ENVIRONMENT. Accumulation of such XENOBIOTICS at successively higher levels up the FOOD CHAIN is called biomagnification. Bioaccumulation of

NIH MeSH · D000081482Phenomena and Processes

Bioaccumulation

Also known asBioconcentration · Bioconcentrations · Bio Accumulation · Bio-accumulation · Bio-accumulations · Bio Concentration · Bio-concentration · Bio-concentrations · Biomagnification · Biomagnifications · Bio Amplification · Bio Amplifications

Definition

An increase in the concentration of an exogenous substance in the tissues of organisms higher than surrounding ENVIRONMENT. Accumulation of such XENOBIOTICS at successively higher levels up the FOOD CHAIN is called biomagnification. Bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals (e.g., Lead and DDT) may result in CHEMICALLY-INDUCED DISORDERS.

MeSH classification

  • G03.015.500.187
  • G03.787.024.500.187
  • G07.690.725.015.500.187

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Related concepts

Absorption, Physiological

Uptake of substances by the body, tissues, or cells. The uptake may occur by various forms of BIOLOGICAL TRANSPORT or by simple DIFFUSION.

Common questions about Bioaccumulation

What does Bioaccumulation mean in medicine?
An increase in the concentration of an exogenous substance in the tissues of organisms higher than surrounding ENVIRONMENT. Accumulation of such XENOBIOTICS at successively higher levels up the FOOD CHAIN is called biomagnification. Bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals (e.g., Lead and DDT) may result in CHEMICALLY-INDUCED DISORDERS. This definition is taken from the National Library of Medicine's MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) 2026 release, which is the standard vocabulary used to index PubMed and most medical literature.
Is Bioaccumulation known by any other names?
Yes. Bioaccumulation is also referred to as Bioconcentration, Bioconcentrations, Bio Accumulation, Bio-accumulation in different clinical, research and patient-facing contexts. The MeSH descriptor groups all of these synonyms under a single canonical concept so research and records stay consistent.
Where does Bioaccumulation sit in the medical classification?
Bioaccumulation falls under the broader medical category "Phenomena and Processes" in the MeSH hierarchy (tree numbers: G03.015.500.187, G03.787.024.500.187, G07.690.725.015.500.187). Browsing the related concepts on this page takes you to neighbouring topics in the same branch of medicine.
Where can I get a plain-language explanation of Bioaccumulation?
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Source: NIH MeSH 2026 (D000081482) — National Library of Medicine, public domain. View official MeSH record ↗