Calculate pollutant concentration increase across food chain trophic levels using biomagnification factors and bioaccumulation metrics
Final Concentration at Top Level
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Total Magnification Factor
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Bioaccumulation Factor (BAF)
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Environmental Risk Level
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Biomagnification is the process by which pollutant concentrations increase as they move up through food chain trophic levels. It occurs because organisms at higher levels consume many organisms from lower levels, accumulating pollutants that cannot be easily eliminated.
BMF is the ratio of pollutant concentration in a predator to that in its prey. It's calculated by dividing the concentration in the predator by the concentration in its food source. BMF values greater than 1 indicate biomagnification is occurring.
BCF (Bioconcentration Factor) measures uptake from water only, BAF (Bioaccumulation Factor) includes all exposure routes, and BMF (Biomagnification Factor) specifically measures the increase between predator and prey in the food chain.
Persistent, lipophilic (fat-loving) chemicals with high log Kow values (>4) are most likely to biomagnify. These include POPs like DDT, PCBs, and certain heavy metals like mercury.
Log Kow (octanol-water partition coefficient) indicates how readily a chemical dissolves in fats versus water. Higher Log Kow values (>4) indicate greater lipophilicity and higher potential for bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
Top predators at the highest trophic levels (4-5) typically show the highest pollutant concentrations due to cumulative biomagnification effects throughout the food chain.
Environmental risk is assessed by comparing calculated concentrations to toxicity thresholds. High biomagnification factors combined with toxic effects data help determine potential impacts on ecosystem health and top predators.