HYPOXIC WATERS

Waters with dissolved oxygen concentrations of less than 2 mg/L, the level generally accepted as the minimum required for life and reproduction of aquatic organisms. Hypoxia waters are prevalent due to the actions of human pollution. This occurrence is caused mainly from nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, in addition to effluents, burning of fossil fuel, and agricultural runoff. Hypoxic conditions can be influenced by the changes in the weather due to the unguarded nature of the marine and coastal ecosystems. Also due to human activities, the prevalence of hypoxic water is spreading throughout areas such as in estuarine and shallow coastal zones. Hypoxic conditions must be addressed and fixed before a lengthy period of time or else the aquatic life existing in these waters will surely perish, including other unwanted effects on the ecological system.