Industrial pollutants

• Heavy metals in industrial waste water (lead, mercury) end up in rivers and oceans
• Oil and petrol spills along the coast as well as from underground storage tanks that are not properly maintained
• Various salts, such as sulphates and chlorides, originating from paper and pulp mills, and textile factories.
• Warm water pumped into rivers and oceans by factories. This kind of pollution is called thermal pollution.
• Thermal pollution occurs when some industries (in particular iron and steel) and power plants use water as a cooling medium.
• Large quantities of hot water are released into rivers and oceans.
• An oxygen shortage occurs as less oxygen dissolves in hot water compared to cold water and this can cause the death of many aquatic organisms.
• The increased water temperature can also cause an increase in the growth of algae.
• Possible actions to reduce industrial pollution

  • Close monitoring and strict measures to regulate industry and reduce waste.
  • Recycling of wastewater by industries
  • Cooling of wastewater before release by industries