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8.6 Thermal Pollution

Part of Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution in AP® Environmental Science. Read the opening section, then create a free account for the full interactive lesson, practice, and progress tracking.

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Thermal pollution occurs when heat released into water produces negative effects on the organisms in that ecosystem. It is most commonly caused by power plants discharging warm cooling water into rivers, lakes, or oceans.

In this unit

15 lessons

  1. 8.1Sources of PollutionPreview lesson
  2. 8.2Human Impacts on EcosystemsPreview lesson
  3. 8.3Endocrine DisruptorsPreview lesson
  4. 8.4Human Impacts on Wetlands and MangrovesPreview lesson
  5. 8.5EutrophicationPreview lesson
  6. 8.6Thermal PollutionThis lesson
  7. 8.7Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)Preview lesson
  8. 8.8Bioaccumulation and BiomagnificationPreview lesson
  9. 8.9Solid Waste DisposalPreview lesson
  10. 8.10Waste Reduction MethodsPreview lesson
  11. 8.11Sewage TreatmentPreview lesson
  12. 8.12Lethal Dose 50%Preview lesson
  13. 8.13Dose Response CurvePreview lesson
  14. 8.14Pollution and Human HealthPreview lesson
  15. 8.15Pathogens and Infectious DiseasesPreview lesson

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