Abstract:
Thermal pollution, primarily caused by industrial discharges and power plants, significantly impacts both
environmental and human health. This review explores the sources, ecological consequences, and
emerging concerns regarding human health linked to thermal pollution. Power plants, particularly nuclear
and coal-fired, release heated water into natural bodies, disrupting aquatic ecosystems by altering species
composition, increasing metabolic rates, and reducing dissolved oxygen levels, which are vital for aquatic
life. Urbanization, stormwater runoff, and deforestation exacerbate this issue by increasing surface
temperatures and contributing to the degradation of aquatic habitats. Furthermore, climate change
intensifies thermal pollution, compounding its environmental effects. This review also investigates the
lesser-explored human health implications of thermal pollution, particularly through the contamination of
water supplies and disruption of aquatic resources. While much research focuses on ecological impacts,
there is a growing need for studies addressing how thermal pollution indirectly affects human populations,
such as through compromised food chains and degraded water quality. Mitigation strategies, including
cooling towers, green infrastructure, and riparian buffer restoration, offer potential solutions. However,
the review highlights significant gaps in understanding the full scope of thermal pollution’s effects on
human health and emphasizes the need for future interdisciplinary research to bridge these gaps. |
