Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)

Definition

Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microorganisms during the decomposition of organic matter in water. It indicates the level of pollution or organic contamination present in a water body.

Related terms

Nutrient Pollution: Nutrient pollution occurs when excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers or wastewater, enter bodies of water. This can lead to increased BOD levels and harmful algal blooms.

Wastewater Treatment:

Wastewater treatment involves removing pollutants from domestic or industrial wastewater before it is released back into the environment. One goal is to reduce BOD levels to protect receiving waters.

Bioindicators: Bioindicators are living organisms used to assess environmental conditions or changes. They can be used to monitor BOD levels since certain species are sensitive to low levels of dissolved oxygen caused by high BOD values.