Oil and Thermal Pollution

Module 3 - POLLUTION

Marine Oil Pollution

Oil exploration and oil transportation causes the ocean with spillage of large quantity of oil. Oil tanker accidents, international discharge of oil into sea water are also the reason of marine oil pollution.

66. Causes of marine oil pollution

Oil exploration and oil transportation causes the ocean with spillage of large quantity of oil. Oil tanker accidents, international discharge of oil into sea water are also the reason of marine oil pollution. The various causes of marine oil pollution are:

1. Oil tankers (ship) are one of the major source of oil spills.
2. Oil explorations either onshore or offshore causes release of oil into the ocean from oil wells.
3. Minor oil spills from the oil pipe lines occur very frequently.
4. International discharge of oil into sea water is a recent phenomenon which has occurred during the gulf war.

67. Control measures of oil pollution

1. Contingency planning is required for the abatements of oil spill persistence testing using local marine organizations.
2. The cleaning o the oil spills can be carried out by the placement of specially designed floating blooms.
3. Sinking agents such as chalk, dispersants etc. convert oil into a  more easily handled visco-elastic substance.
4. Adopt biodegradation processes to break down the oil.
5. Enforcement of laws to control marine pollution on coastal areas.

68. What is thermal pollution? 

The discharge of warm water into the water bodies are usually called as thermal pollution. It occurs when industries like thermal power plants use the water from the water bodies for cooing turbines and return the waste hot water into it. 

When the temperature of the water rises, it reduce the solubility of oxygen and change the ecological balance of the river.

Thermal pollution can be controlled by passing the heated water through a cooling pond or cooling tower after it leave the machine. The heat is dissipated into the air and then the water can be discharged into the water bodies.

69. Causes/sources of thermal pollution

1. Nuclear Power plants

Nuclear power plants, experiments, explosions etc. release a large amount of heat nearby water streams.

2. Coal fired power plants

Thermal power plants are a major source of thermal pollution.

3. Industrial effluents

Industries like paper, textile, sugar etc. release heat into the water.

4. Domestic sewage

The sewage water discharged into the water bodies are higher in temperature than the receiving water.