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# Long description

Figure 14 illustrates the bioaccumulation of metals in an aquatic food chain. The figure is presented as a flow chart, from bottom to top. At the bottom is the contaminant (represented by red dots), which is then consumed by plankton (illustrated as small organisms of different shapes containing the contaminant). The plankton is consumed by a worm, the worm by a small fish, the small fish by a larger fish. The diagram shows that the contaminant is passed through the food chain. Eventually, the contaminant is passed to both humans and birds, since they consume the larger fish.