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Body burden

Definition:

The total amount of a substance in the body. Some substances build up in the body because they are stored in fat or bone or because they leave the body very slowly.

Source: ATSDR Glossary of Terms 

More:

The amount of a particular chemical stored in the body at a particular time, especially a potentially toxic chemical in the body as a result of exposure. Body burdens can be the result of long-term or short-term storage, for example, the amount of a metal in bone, the amount of a lipophilic substance such as PCB in adipose tissue, or the amount of carbon monoxide (as carboxyhemoglobin) in the blood.

Source: US EPA Health Effects Glossary 

Related words:

Bioaccumulation - Biologic intake - Biologic uptake - Half life

Related publications:
 
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