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What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?
- a)High level of microbial pollution
- b)Low level of microbial pollution
- c)Absence of microbial pollution
- d)Water is pure
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Verified Answer
What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High...
Concept:
- The water pollution in the rivers is measured by the amount of dissolved oxygen.
- Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a measure of how much oxygen is dissolved in the water.
- Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen available to living aquatic organisms.
- The amount of dissolved oxygen indicates its water quality.
Additional Information
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD):
- If too much organic matter is added to water, all the available oxygen will be used up.
- This causes oxygen-dependent aquatic life to die.
- Thus, anaerobic bacteria (which do not require oxygen) begin to break down the organic waste and produce chemicals that have a foul smell and are harmful to human health
- High BOD means water is highly polluted due to microbes.
Various human activities can lead to water pollution.
- The emissions from factories and vehicles are released into the air which settles into the water bodies in the form of acid rain.
- Industrial waste and sewage water also drain into water bodies when there is no efficient drainage system.
- As population density increases, the waste generated in households ends up in water bodies polluting them.
- Human activities (washing clothes and utensils) around water bodies increase with the increase in population leading to water pollution.
Pollution caused by chemicals:
- Herbicides are substances which are known as weed-killers and are toxic to plants.
- Insecticides are used to kill insects.
- Fungicides are chemicals used for destroying fungi.
- Rodenticides are used for killing rodents like rats and mice.
Most Upvoted Answer
What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High...
Water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicates a high level of microbial pollution. BOD is a measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen required by microorganisms to decompose the organic matter present in water. It is an important parameter used to assess the organic pollution level in water bodies.
Explanation:
1. What is BOD?
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the decomposition of organic matter in water.
- It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per liter of water (mg/L).
- BOD is a key indicator of the organic pollution level in water bodies.
2. High BOD and Microbial Pollution:
- When water has a high BOD, it indicates that there is a significant presence of organic matter in the water.
- Organic matter serves as a food source for microorganisms such as bacteria and algae.
- These microorganisms consume oxygen while decomposing the organic matter.
- As a result, the dissolved oxygen levels in the water decrease.
- High microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter lead to a higher BOD value.
3. Relationship between BOD and Microbial Pollution:
- Microbial pollution refers to the presence of harmful microorganisms in water, including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- Organic matter, such as sewage, agricultural runoff, or industrial waste, can serve as a potential source of microbial pollution.
- When water is contaminated with organic pollutants, microorganisms thrive and multiply.
- Their increased activity leads to a higher BOD, as they consume more oxygen during decomposition.
4. Implications of High BOD:
- High BOD levels indicate that the water is polluted with organic matter, which can have detrimental effects on aquatic life.
- Decreased oxygen levels can lead to oxygen depletion, causing the death of fish and other aquatic organisms.
- High BOD also indicates poor water quality and can pose risks to human health if the water is used for drinking or recreational purposes.
In conclusion, water's high BOD indicates a high level of microbial pollution due to the presence of organic matter that supports microbial growth and activity. Monitoring BOD levels is essential for assessing water quality and identifying potential health risks associated with microbial pollution.
Explanation:
1. What is BOD?
- Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the decomposition of organic matter in water.
- It is expressed in milligrams of oxygen per liter of water (mg/L).
- BOD is a key indicator of the organic pollution level in water bodies.
2. High BOD and Microbial Pollution:
- When water has a high BOD, it indicates that there is a significant presence of organic matter in the water.
- Organic matter serves as a food source for microorganisms such as bacteria and algae.
- These microorganisms consume oxygen while decomposing the organic matter.
- As a result, the dissolved oxygen levels in the water decrease.
- High microbial activity and decomposition of organic matter lead to a higher BOD value.
3. Relationship between BOD and Microbial Pollution:
- Microbial pollution refers to the presence of harmful microorganisms in water, including pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
- Organic matter, such as sewage, agricultural runoff, or industrial waste, can serve as a potential source of microbial pollution.
- When water is contaminated with organic pollutants, microorganisms thrive and multiply.
- Their increased activity leads to a higher BOD, as they consume more oxygen during decomposition.
4. Implications of High BOD:
- High BOD levels indicate that the water is polluted with organic matter, which can have detrimental effects on aquatic life.
- Decreased oxygen levels can lead to oxygen depletion, causing the death of fish and other aquatic organisms.
- High BOD also indicates poor water quality and can pose risks to human health if the water is used for drinking or recreational purposes.
In conclusion, water's high BOD indicates a high level of microbial pollution due to the presence of organic matter that supports microbial growth and activity. Monitoring BOD levels is essential for assessing water quality and identifying potential health risks associated with microbial pollution.
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What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
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What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for What does water's high biological oxygen demand (BOD) indicate?a)High level of microbial pollutionb)Low level of microbial pollutionc)Absence of microbial pollutiond)Water is pureCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?.
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