What is Thermal Pollution?Thermal pollution is when water temperature rises to harmful degrees in lakes, rivers, ponds, and even coastal bodies of water in the ocean. Human activities, like dumping hot water and wastes from power plants into these bodies of water, are the main reason why thermal pollution occur. However, thermal pollution also happens when trees that shade streams die or are removed. Sunlight naturally heats up the water causing it's temperature to increase, and allowing thermal pollution to take place.
Taking the InitiativeThermal pollution was first addressed in 1970 when the government realized the harmful effects of power plants dumping hot water into lakes, rivers, streams, and ponds. Soon after, the Clean Water Act was passed to control the discharge of hot water from the plants. It also encouraged power plants to remodel their building to produce less waste. Since this act has been passed, thermal pollution has been reduced greatly. Some provinces, states, and countries have even placed limits on the amount of waste that power plants can discharge.
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The ImpactsThermal pollution affects animals and plants that take shelter underwater greatly. It causes thermal shock, oxygen depletion, and forced migration among these creatures. It takes a temperature increase of only 1 or 2 degrees Celsius to make this impact. When aquatic life like shellfish and rooted plants that cannot move die as a result of temperature increase it is also know as thermal shock. As dead aquatic life decay, not only do they take a grand amount of dissolved oxygen from other life, but they also cause water to look, smell, and taste bad. Overall, it is not a healthy environment for animals and humans to be around.
Oxygen DepletionCold water generally has more oxygen than warmer water. As I mentioned before, when thermal pollution takes place, water temperature increases causing dissolved oxygen levels to decrease as well. This is also known as oxygen depletion. Heated water speeds up the metabolism for fish causing their need for oxygen to increase even more. As a result, many fish die since they are not able to receive the sufficient amount of oxygen.
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