Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
6. Bio-accumulation, bio-concentration, and bio-magnification are three different processes that describe how contaminants can become concentrated in living organisms. Examine their impact. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 3 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To Differentiate between Bio-accumulation, Bio-concentration and Bio-magnification and their impact.
Directive word:
Examine – When asked to ‘Examine’, we must investigate the topic (content words) in detail, inspect it, investigate it and establish the key facts and issues related to the topic in question. While doing so we should explain why these facts and issues are important and their implications.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin defining Bio-accumulation, Bio-concentration and Bio-magnification.
Body:
First, explain the above three processes and give examples of the all the above-mentioned phenomenon in various terrestrial and aquatic systems.
Next, write about the impact of the above – Persistent Pollutants, Build-up in Fats, permanently damage various body systems, impact of animals and birds etc.
Conclusion:
Conclude by writing a way forward on how to deal with the above.
