Question

With regards to humans feeding on fish which prey on planktons affected with DDT, choose the correct answer based on the following statements.

Statement 1: Humans are least affected by biomagnification.
Statement 2: Only small proportion of the pollutant is present in a fish.

• A. Statements 1 is false and statements 2 is true
• B. Statements 1 is true and statements 2 is false
• C. Statements 2 is the reason for statements 1
• D. Both the statements are true false

Answer 1

The correct option is A Statements 1 is false and statements 2 is true

Even though the proportion of pollutant present in an organism is lesser, the continuous consumption of such bottom level organisms, can result in the increased accumulation of undigested toxic materials in organisms at the top of the food chain. As a result, organisms at the top of the food chain has higher concentration of pollutants, due to continuous toxin or pollutant intake, than those at lower levels. Humans being on the top the food chain is the one who is highly affected by this process of biomagnification.