Pollution — Types and Sources — Question 1
Back to all questionsAs per the report of National Oceanic and Atmospheric organization Sixty-five percent of the estuaries and coastal waters in the contiguous U.S. that have been studied by researchers are moderately to severely degraded by excessive nutrient inputs. Excessive nutrients lead to the growth of many algae in turns death of many fish.
Identify the process.
Why is the concentration of excessive nutrients responsible for the death of aquatic animal?
The process is called Eutrophication.
When excessive nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, enter water bodies, they promote rapid algae growth. This overgrowth blocks sunlight and, when the algae die and decompose, the process uses up large amounts of dissolved oxygen in the water. The resulting drop in oxygen levels, known as hypoxia, makes it difficult for fish and other aquatic animals to survive, leading to their death.