This simplified explanation does not take into account all of the many factors that affect the ability of chemicals to be bioaccumulated. Some chemicals bind to specific sites in the body, prolonging their stay, whereas others move freely in and out. The time between uptake and eventual elimination of a chemical directly affects accumulation. Chemicals that are immediately eliminated, for example, do not bioaccumulate.

Similarly, the duration of exposure is also a factor in bioaccumulation. Most exposures to chemicals in the environment vary continually in concentration and duration, sometimes including periods of no exposure. In these cases, an equilibrium is never achieved and the accumulation is less than expected.

Bioaccumulation varies between individual organism as well as between species. Large, fat, long-lived individuals or species with low rates of metabolism or excretion of a chemical will bioaccumulate more than small, thin, short-lived organisms. Thus, an old lake trout may bioaccumulate much more than a young bluegill in the same lake.

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