bioaccumulation

This term is primarily used in scientific, ecological, and toxicological contexts to describe the process where a chemical substance builds up in a living organism faster than it can be broken down or excreted. It is often discussed in the context of environmental pollution and food safety, specifically regarding heavy metals or persistent organic pollutants.

While related to biomagnification, bioaccumulation refers specifically to the increase of a substance within a single organism over its lifespan, whereas biomagnification describes the increasing concentration of a toxin as it moves up the food chain from prey to predator.