Ontario Grade 9 Science Class Practice Exam

Bioaccumulation is the process by which toxins or chemicals build up in tissues of organisms as they are absorbed from the environment. This can occur when an organism consumes food or water that contains the toxin, and as the organism continues to eat and drink, the toxin accumulates in its body. The other options are incorrect because they do not accurately describe bioaccumulation. A is the process of obtaining nutrients, but bioaccumulation specifically refers to the build-up of toxins. C is the process of decomposition, which is not related to bioaccumulation. D is the reduction of biodiversity, which can be one consequence of bioaccumulation but is not a definition of bioaccumulation itself.