英闻天下——238 Fireworks Sale Prospect Shadowed by Smog over City

 　　Despite the recent air pollution here in Beijing, residents still hold different opinions on whether or not to light fireworks this coming Spring Festival.

 

　　"For celebrating the festival, I think setting off fireworks has its special meaning. And I don't think that only playing with fireworks cause the dense¹ smog."

 

　　"I think we have to ask kids less to play fireworks due to its danger. I will choose not to play fireworks, because I think it will cause the bad weather and dense smog."

 

　　The constant air pollution has got fireworks company worried about their business this year.

 

　　Li Chun is a salesman working at the Beijing Doudou Fireworks Company. This is his second year to sell fireworks at the certified² fireworks and firecracker store in Beijing Shijingshan District.

 

　　"This is the first day to sell the fireworks and firecrackers. Last year, the business was quite good. But this year I think the desire for people to purchase fireworks is less than before due do the recent dense smog. Compared with the business of last year, I think the profit will reduce a lot. For this year's business, I think it will be mainly affected³ by the weather and the fireworks usage index."

 

　　Setting off fireworks is an important part of China's New Year celebration, but it can also be a source of air pollution.

 

　　Last year, the PM 2.5 increased 80 times on New Year's Day due to the large amount of fireworks being set off the night before.

 

　　To solve the issue, the government is set to issue a firework index during the Spring Festival holiday based on weather conditions, including wind and humidity, to inform the public whether it is suitable to set off fireworks.

 

　　The indices of different districts in Beijing will be shown twice a day on TV and radio.

 

　　In the case of extremely bad weather conditions, government agencies will send out text messages to alert the public not to light firecrackers.

 

　　Some experts even suggests a return to the ban of fireworks in Beijing 20 years ago.

 

　　Professor Zou Ji is the Vice⁴ Dean of the Environment and Natural Resources School at Renmin University

 

　　"Public health should always be the government's priority. If necessary, there's nothing that can't be changed. We are facing such a serious air pollution, and in order the protect public health, we can change the regulation anytime."

 

　　For CRI, I am Shen Chengcheng.

1 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

2 certified   

a.经证明合格的；具有证明文件的

参考例句：

• Doctors certified him as insane. 医生证明他精神失常。
• The planes were certified airworthy. 飞机被证明适于航行。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。