Bioaccumulation

Bioaccumulation refers to the process by which harmful chemicals like pesticides, heavy metals, and other toxins gradually build up in the bodies of living organisms over time. It's like when you eat too many sweets; they can start to build up in your body and make you sick.

So imagine you're a little fish swimming in a lake. The lake has pesticides and other chemicals in it from nearby farms, and you accidentally eat some of these chemicals while trying to eat your food. These chemicals then start to build up in your body over time, because your body can't get rid of them very easily.

Now imagine a bigger fish comes along and eats you. That bigger fish will also eat the chemicals that have built up in your body, and those chemicals will also build up in the bigger fish's body. And if an even bigger fish comes and eats that bigger fish, it will also get those chemicals in its body. This is called bioaccumulation, because the chemicals accumulate, or build up, in the bodies of living things over time.

This doesn't just happen with fish. It can happen with any living thing, including humans. So it's important to be aware of the chemicals we put into the environment, and to make sure we do what we can to reduce our use of harmful chemicals.