Effects of Biomagnification

Following are the effects of biomagnification on living organisms and the

environment:

Impact on Human Health

Biomagnification makes humans more prone to cancer, kidney problems, liver
failure, birth defects, respiratory disorders, and heart diseases.

In recent years, the consumption of seafood has been linked to certain types
of cancer. This is as a result of the accumulation of mercury and the
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the tissues of marine organisms.
Mercury is known to have an adverse effect on humans such as deterioration
in the nervous system, impaired vision, hearing, and speech, lead to
involuntary muscle movements and corrosion of skin and mucosa.

In addition, consumption of plants or aquatic animals that have assimilated

heavy metals and toxic substances may lead to long-term effects such as
different types of cancers, Kidney failure, respiratory disorders, brain damage,
birth defects and heart diseases.

Fishes that live in areas where pollution is rampant have shown traces of
mercury, and lead which are highly toxic in the human body if ingested.
It is also important to note that consumption of seafood with high levels of
mercury in pregnant women can cause the child to be born with mental
problems and in addition,the mutations can also be caused by these toxic
substances.

Ang mga taong apektado ng biomagnification ay may posibilidad na

magkaroon ng mas mataas na panganib na magkaroon ng ilang partikular na
karamdaman gaya nga ng mga nabanggit ko kanina. Ang mga toxic
substances na responsable para sa mga problemang ito sa kalusugan ay
kinabibilangan ng mercury,arsenic, DDT,PCB at DDE. So bakit nga ba
masama ang mga ito in human health, the reason is because ang mga ito ay
mga toxic substances so ang mga compund nito ay nakakaapekto sa central
nervous system, kidney and liver and it can disturb immune processes; na
maaaring maging sanhi sa impaired vision and hearing, paralysis, insomnia
and emotional instability.
 
 
 
Effects on Reproduction and Development of Marine Creatures
The toxic chemicals accumulate in the important organs of aquatic organisms
that affect their reproduction and development processes. Halimbawa, ang
shell ng mga itlog ng seabird ay napakanipis na maaaring durugin ng mga
seabird mismo during incubation. Ang mga toxic chemicals katulad ng
mercury at selenium ay sumisira sa reproductive organs ng aquatic creature.
Kasi The ingestion and subsequent accumulation of metals in the tissues of
marine organisms have an adverse effect on their development and
reproduction. Consumption of heavy toxic metals in seabirds has an effect on
egg production( gaya nga ng pagkanipis ng mga shells ng seabird).
 The seabirds produce eggs with soft and thin shells which easily crashes as
they try to incubate them.
The various toxic chemicals and elements accumulate in the vital organs of
the various aquatic creatures affecting their reproduction and development.
For instance, seabird eggs are laid with thinner shells than normal, and can
result in the birds crushing their eggs instead of incubating them. Selenium
and heavy metals such as mercury also affect the reproduction of aquatic
creatures such as fish as it destroys their reproductive organs. Besides,
PCB’S (polychlorinated biphenyls) also biomagnifies and impairs reproduction
and is considerable high in aquatic systems.
Other cases that result from contamination of water bodies with toxic
chemicals such as Selenium and mercury that I already said a while ago
damage the reproduction systems of marine animals.
Few fishes would mean less food to other creatures that depend on them for
survival. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are highly concentrated in water
bodies and have the same effect on aquatic animals.
 
Destruction of Coral Reefs
Cyanide that is used in leaching gold and fishing is the main cause of the
destruction of coral reefs. Coral reefs are the dwelling and feeding grounds for
many sea creatures. Their destruction affects the lives of many aquatic
animals.
Destructive fishing practices have a major effects on coral reef fish
communities. They lead to loss of coral cover which reduces both fish
abundance and diversity over time unless coral regrowth is adequate to
compensate for the loss.

"Cyanide fishing" ito ay isa sa mga pinaka mapanirang pamamaraan na

ginagamit para sa paghuli ng mga isda. Which is illegal in many countries . Sa
ganitong gawain ang mga mangingisda ay pumupulandit ng purong sodium
cyanide sa mga reefs upang masindak ang mga isda na dahilan din ng
pagkawasak ng coral reefs. 
So How does Cyanide affects the aquatic life? 
cyanide breaks down heavy metals, it can form complexes with other metals ,
which can be as toxic as cyanide itself. Especially fish and aquatic
invertebrates are particularly sensitive to cyanide exposure. It blocks the
absorption of oxygen by cells and causes the species to suffocate
 
Disruption of Food Chain
The chemicals and toxins which are released into the water bodies disrupt the
food chain. The small organisms absorb the toxins which are eaten up by
larger animals. These toxins, thus, get accumulated in the higher level of
organisms.
Accumulation of substances that cause Biomagnification can disrupt o
maaaring makagambala sa natural na food chain na mahalaga para sa
kaligtasan ng lahat ng mga species sa isang partikular na biosphere.The toxic
chemicals found their way into the soil and water bodies as a result of runoff,
they are then assimilated into the primary consumers’ tissues after
consumption.The primary consumers such as plants are then consumed by
secondary consumers which in turn are consumed by other organisms. The
chain continues up to the highest trophic level leading to Biomagnification.
 
However, if a group of organisms was to die due to the toxic substances the
natural flow of the food chains becomes disrupted. This may have a long-term
effect which might not be noticed in the short term.