Editing Biota toxic contaminant burden (section)

== Boundary Conditions ==
Boundary inclusions encompass all toxic contaminants accumulated within the tissues or bodies of exposed aquatic and terrestrial organisms, regardless of the contaminant source or chemical class. This includes bioaccumulated heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and other toxic substances present in the environment that enter biota through direct contact, ingestion, or maternal transfer.

Boundary exclusions involve contaminants present in the environment but not internalized by biota, such as pollutants in water, soil, or air that have not resulted in measurable accumulation within organisms. Additionally, non-toxic substances or naturally occurring elements at background levels without toxicological relevance are excluded. The signal does not encompass indirect ecological effects or population-level outcomes without direct measurement of contaminant burden in biota.