中国假期禁放烟花 确保空气质量

 　　中国假期禁放烟花 确保空气质量

　　The Chinese have a tradition of celebrating the Lunar New Year with firecrackers and fireworks, hoping the noise will fend¹ off evil spirits and bad luck. The sky decorated with illuminating² fireworks is an amazing spectacle that happens only once a year.

　　"I like setting off firecrackers. It's the symbol of celebrating the New Year. I also like the fireworks because of their many brilliant colors."

　　But environmental experts warn that fireworks create smog and release harmful substances.

　　They say that, when ignited, gunpowder³ releases many chemical compounds similar to motor vehicle emissions⁴, creating hazy⁵ conditions.

　　Authorities in Beijing said earlier that firework celebrations will be canceled if serious air pollution is forecast for the Lunar New Year, a festival that usually features massive use of pyrotechnics.

　　The firework firestorm last year in Beijing led to a surge in the PM 2.5 reading to more than 500 micrograms per cubic meter on Lunar New Year's Eve.

　　Shanghai just experienced one of its most polluted months in December, with only eight days reportedly having decent air quality.

　　On the eve of the 2013 Chinese New Year last February, the index of PM2.5 pollutants⁶ -- particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter that are considered especially harmful -- soared to 524 micrograms per cubic meter around midnight.

　　A local Beijing resident says celebrating the Lunar New Year should not be come at the cost of poor air quality and people's declining health.

　　"Setting off fireworks is a tradition during Chinese New Year and it creates an atmosphere of celebration. The sound of the firecrackers makes me feel that this is a New Year, but setting off too many of them is inappropriate, given the severity of the air pollution -- setting off a little bit will be just fine."

　　Efforts are also being made to provide cleaner alternatives to traditional fireworks.

　　Local fireworks company Jinqilin, responsible for supplying fireworks to the city's retailers⁷, said it would introduce a new type of "green" pyrotechnic this year, which they claim will account for half the wholesale⁸ market.

1 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

2 illuminating   

a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的

参考例句：

• We didn't find the examples he used particularly illuminating. 我们觉得他采用的那些例证启发性不是特别大。
• I found his talk most illuminating. 我觉得他的话很有启发性。

3 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

4 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

5 hazy   

adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的

参考例句：

• We couldn't see far because it was so hazy.雾气蒙蒙妨碍了我们的视线。
• I have a hazy memory of those early years.对那些早先的岁月我有着朦胧的记忆。

6 pollutants   

污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
• The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

7 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
• Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。

8 wholesale   

n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售

参考例句：

• The retail dealer buys at wholesale and sells at retail.零售商批发购进货物，以零售价卖出。
• Such shoes usually wholesale for much less.这种鞋批发出售通常要便宜得多。