Question

If a child ingests lead on an ongoing basis by eating lead paint or playing in lead-contaminated soil, the lead will build up in the child's body over time, to the point where it may reach a harmful concentration. This build-up process is called

a) Bioaccumulation
b) Biomagnification
c) Bioavailability
d) Biotransformation

Answer 1

Bioaccumulation is the process by which lead builds up in a child's body when they ingest lead from sources like paint or contaminated soil.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a child ingests lead on an ongoing basis by eating lead paint or playing in lead-contaminated soil, the lead builds up in the child's body over time, possibly reaching a harmful concentration. This gradual increase and concentration of a toxic substance within an organism is known as bioaccumulation. It is important for children to get tested for lead, as an increased level can lead to detrimental health effects such as developmental delays, lower IQ, and more serious consequences such as seizures and coma when exposure is very high.