What would happen if the oxygen levels decreased by 15 percent?
How would the human body be affected if the oxygen levels on Earth suddenly decreased by 15 percent? This is instant. Not over time. How would we adapt? Would some people die and some not?
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Denver has about 17% less oxygen than at sea level. Note that this isn't reduced concentration; there's just less air. This answer doesn't address the increased proportion of other elements in the air, only oxygen reduction.
According to this article on altitude sickness, the first effect that kicks in from reduced oxygen is hyperventilation -- you breathe faster in an attempt to get more oxygen into your lungs. This can lead to weakness, dizziness, and fainting. More-severe symptoms can occur at higher altitudes (= lower oxygen levels), from vomiting and headaches to pulmonary edema and brain injury.
Obviously it's possible to acclimate -- people live in Denver, after all. So the main challenge seems to be the transition -- those first few days after the oxygen drops are going to be challenging. But people who avoid strenuous activity for a few days and take some extra care with diet and medications can adjust.
A sudden 15% drop is like everybody hopping a plane to Denver -- uncomfortable at first, but with care it's not likely to do long-term harm. Of course, people who are already medically fragile might suffer worse consequences.
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