Oxygen depletion

Oxygen depletion is a state in which the concentration of oxygen falls below levels needed to sustain most aerobic life. In aquatic environments, it is primarily caused by excess nutrients (from agricultural runoff, sewage, etc.) which drive algal blooms; when algae die, their decomposition consumes large amounts of dissolved oxygen, leading to hypoxic or anoxic conditions and large-scale die-offs of fish and invertebrates. In broader terms, oxygen depletion serves as an indicator of environmental health and is associated with ecological disruption, including formation of dead zones and changes in nutrient cycling. Oxygen depletion is not a specific molecule, receptor, enzyme, transporter, or other canonical drug target, but is a process resulting from various chemical and biological dynamics in the environment.

Other names

Hypoxia (environmental)Dead zoneLow dissolved oxygenOcean deoxygenation