1. World problems
  2. Destruction of environmental oxygen

Destruction of environmental oxygen

  • Oxygen depletion of the environment

Nature

All activity requires energy, which normally involves the combustion of oxygen, the indispensable element of life and nature. The present amount of human activity is such that it involves a greater combustion of oxygen than the production of oxygen by plant chlorophyll is capable of producing; at the same time water pollution and destruction of green spaces is causing the destruction of oxygen-creating agents, phytoplankton in water (which at present produces 70% of the oxygen in air) and vegetation on land (which produces 30% of air oxygen). The risk now exists of more oxygen being used than is actually produced.

Background

Analysis of ancient rocks shows that the oxygen content of the atmosphere peaked at 35 percent between 350 and 250 million years ago, at a time of lush Carboniferous forests and giant insects. Currently it is 21 percent.

One hectare of average forest supplies the oxygen need by 40 to 80 people.

Incidence

The accelerating process of the destruction of oxygen is such that some scientists predict the combustion of all oxygen in the atmosphere in less than 2,000 years.

Broader

Deficiency
Yet to rate

Narrower

Aggravates

Aggravated by

War
Excellent
Deforestation
Excellent

Related

Value

Destructiveness
Yet to rate

SDG

Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land

Metadata

Database
World problems
Type
(E) Emanations of other problems
Subject
  • Environment » Environment
  • Fundamental sciences » Non-metallic chemical elements
  • Societal problems » Destruction
  • Societal problems » Inadequacy
  • Content quality
    Presentable
     Presentable
    Language
    English
    Last update
    Oct 4, 2020