New Study Warns Of Risks From Declining Oxygen Levels In Large Cities Worldwide

BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Jun, 2021 ) --:A Chinese research team has recently revealed the emerging risks of declining oxygen levels in large cities around the world, raising concerns over people's health and the potential for sustainable development in major cities.

A research team from Lanzhou University investigated oxygen balances and related risks in 391 cities worldwide with a population of more than 1 million. They studied the oxygen index, the ratio of oxygen consumption to oxygen production.

The results of the study show that global urban areas, covering 3.

8 percent of the global land surface, accounted for approximately 39 percent of terrestrial oxygen consumption during the 2001-2015 period, said Huang Jianping, leader of the research team from the College of Atmospheric Science at Lanzhou University.

It is estimated that 75 percent of cities with a population of more than 5 million had oxygen indexes greater than 100.

The study also revealed that high population density and large-scale urban expansion not only increase the consumption of natural resources but also reduce the stability of an ecosystem.