Given below are two statements. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below.
Statement I:Toxins that are rather dilute in the environment can reach dangerous levels inside cells and tissues through the process of bioaccumulation.
Statement II:Bioaccumulation occurs when the toxic burden of a large number of organisms at a lower trophic level is accumulated and concentrated by a predator at a higher trophic level.
ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct
BBoth Statement I and Statement II are incorrect
CStatement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect ✓ Correct
DStatement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct
Correct answer: (C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
Explanation
Dilute environmental toxins can build to dangerous levels inside cells and tissues over time.
Statement 1 is correct because bioaccumulation is this gradual gathering of a toxin within one organism.
Statement 2 is wrong because it actually describes biomagnification, not bioaccumulation.
Biomagnification is the rise in toxin concentration as it passes up successive trophic levels.
Bioaccumulation refers to build-up within a single organism across its lifetime, from all sources.
Fat-soluble, persistent chemicals like DDT and mercury show both effects most strongly.
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