Any form of Hg can be converted to methylmercury by natural means and then bioaccumulate and biomagnify as it progresses through aquatic food webs. |
Each of these compounds are important contaminants in biological systems as they readily bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain. |
Therefore, copper does not bioaccumulate or biomagnify in aquatic or terrestrial food chains. |
Although it can persist in sediments and accumulate in sediment-dwelling organisms, it does not biomagnify through the food chain. |
Those effects are exacerbated in piscivorous species, because of the tendency of PCBs to biomagnify at upper trophic levels. |
This variation may be attributed on one hand, to their habitats and on the other hand to their inherent abilities to biomagnify the heavy metals. |