What is thermal pollution. What are its causes, effects and how to prevent it?

While talking about pollution and by going into each types of pollution in detail, we may feel that there is no part of thing that is not polluted. That thought cannot be wrong as we come up with another kind of pollution, named thermal pollution. Thermal pollution, by the name itself, it implies it is warm or hot. Apart from air pollution, water pollution, environmental pollution etc. this is an indirect pollution, meaning it is mainly caused by the process of bringing changes to the surrounded water temperature. Let us see in detail, how this happens and what factors cause thermal pollution. The effects of thermal pollution are also sketched well with all the effective control or prevention for thermal pollution.

Have you ever heard of the experiment done on the frog to see its reaction to hot water? When the frog was brought near to the pot of boiling water, it struggled as it could feel the heat from the water from some distance. If it were put in to hot water it would try to jump out. But if a frog was placed in cold water and this water were to be very slowly heated up, the frog would be comfortable for a long time, enjoying the warmth but would slowly be cooked to death. And he wouldn’t be aware of it.

Thermal pollution is mainly associated with water. Causing an increase in the temperature of a water body such as a lake or sea changes the content of the water and damages its fragile ecosystem. This is thermal pollution.

Causes of Thermal Pollution

Industries that use large amounts of water as coolant, for example in power plants, steel industries, smelters, paper and pulp mills and chemical plants, release the heated water into nearby water sources without first cooling it appropriately

In cities that are covered by concrete and other man made materials in most parts are also causing thermal pollution. The streets, parking lots and other covered spaces are heated up by the sun. When rain or storm water falls on them, it absorbs the heat and runs of into the drains. This water is sometimes up to 10 Degrees warmer than the surrounding water. When untreated and allowed to flow into rivers seas or oceans, it causes thermal pollution in these waters.

Thermal pollution by thermal power plant

Effects of Thermal pollution

Like the anecdote mentioned above there are ecological disturbances that occur when the temperature of water is increased.

Thermal Shock

When there is an abrupt increase in the temperature of the water this leads to sudden death of all the fish and other organism in the water which are adapted to a certain temperature. This is called thermal shock. This is noticed when a power plant or an industry starts functioning for the first time and also when it has opened up after a break for repairs.

Control of Thermal Pollution 

Heated water from industries can be treated before being released into the nearby water bodies. There are various mechanisms developed for this.

Conclusion

Though it may appear that thermal pollution may not affect humans directly, it is not true. Loss of bio diversity causes changes that affect all the aspects of the environment, because nothing is independent and no one survives completely on their own without relying on their environment.

There is the obvious effect on the food chain, where even now sea food collection has decreased dramatically, irrespective of all the food shows on TV which encourage massive consumption of a depleting food source.

Watching fish in an aquarium is a very effective relaxation therapy. Having a picnic by the river or lake is very invigorating. Listening to the buzzing of insects and the croaking of a watchful frog is companionable.  Watching friendly dolphins leaping out of the water and grinning comically is very rejuvenating and inspiring.

Desiring to preserve the integrity of our environment is not selfish and planning and moving in this direction is the right thing to do.

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