Theory 58/Environmental Chemistry
Bioaccumulation Is Uptake Over Elimination
The claim
Bioaccumulation is set by the ratio of uptake rate to elimination rate rather than by lipophilicity alone, so highly lipophilic compounds can fail to accumulate if they are metabolised.
01The mechanism
Body burden is a balance; lipophilicity raises uptake but also raises the chance of metabolism, which raises elimination.
02Predictions
- P1Accumulation should track the ratio.
- P2Lipophilicity alone should mispredict.
03Refutation
Accumulation tracking lipophilicity would remove the elimination term.