Question

Biological magnification occurs in case of
(a) Organochlorine insecticides
(b) Organophosphate pesticides
(c) Plants and animals in an ecosystem with abundant resources
(d) Photography

Answer 1

Biomagnification or biological magnification is the process of accumulation/increasing of certain chemicals in living organisms within their body to a higher concentration than that occurring in the inorganic, non-living environment.

Complete step by step answer:
DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) is primarily an organochlorine pesticide/insecticide. Originally it was used as an insecticide to prevent the crop from being damaged by insects, rodents, weeds, etc., but due to its harmful effects, it was generally banned by the Convention of Stockholm on Persistent Organic Pollutants, in the year 2001. By its nature, it is insoluble in water and exhibits high solubility in animal fat. They do not break down easily and accumulate in the body of the organism in the part of deposited fat. For its ability to show biomagnification.

Additional information: DDT is stored in the fat of animals and takes many years to break down, and as the fat is consumed by predators, the amounts of DDT are biomagnified. DDT is not available in many parts of the world as it was banned. For example, spraying a swamp for mosquito control will cause traces of DDT to build up in the cells of microscopic aquatic organisms, plankton, in the swamp. By feeding on plankton, filter feeders, such as clams and some fish, collect DDT and food.
The correct answer is 'Organochlorine insecticides'.

Note: Biomagnification may lead to cancer, liver failure, kidney problems, respiratory disorders, birth defects, and heart diseases. It also causes the rupturing of the eggshell in egg-laying birds.