Biological Oxygen Demand is a standard criterion for which of the following?

Correct option is C

Ans. (c)
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is an indicator of the level of organic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. It measures the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic microorganisms to decompose organic matter in water over a specific time period (usually five days at 20°C). High BOD levels indicate significant pollution, often from sewage or industrial effluents, while low levels suggest cleaner water.
Information Booster
1. BOD levels below 4 mg/L are considered good, indicating less pollution.
2. Levels above 10 mg/L suggest polluted water and potential harm to aquatic life.
3. BOD testing is commonly used to assess the health of rivers, lakes, and wastewater treatment plants.
4. High BOD depletes oxygen in water, leading to the death of fish and other organisms.
5. COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) is a related parameter but measures both biodegradable and non-biodegradable organics.
6. The test is critical for environmental monitoring and compliance with pollution control regulations.
7. The test involves incubating a water sample with oxygen-demanding bacteria and measuring oxygen depletion.
Additional Knowledge
· Measuring oxygen level in blood: This is done using pulse oximeters and is unrelated to BOD.
· Computing oxygen levels in forest ecosystems: Focuses on the oxygen-carbon balance but is not linked to aquatic systems.
· Pollution assay in aquatic ecosystems: This is the correct answer, as BOD measures pollution levels in water.
· Assessing oxygen levels in high-altitude regions: Related to hypoxia studies but unrelated to BOD.