世界卫生组织:降低污染,挽救生命_VOA慢速英语（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2015-10-27 WHO: Cut Climate Pollutants, Save Lives 世界卫生组织:降低污染,挽救生命_VOA慢速英语

Reducing some climate pollutants could save millions of lives, says a new report by the World Health Organization (WHO).

一则来自世界卫生组织的新报告称，降低某些空气污染物可能会拯救数以百万计的生命。

Gases, like soot, or black carbon, methane and the ozone in city smog, are called “short-lived climate pollutants.”Not only do they contribute to climate change, but they can cause ill health.

煤烟、炭黑、甲烷以及城市烟雾中的臭氧等气体，通常称为“短期气候污染物质”。它们不仅促成了气候变化，而且会对健康造成损害。

WHO says emissions from these climate pollutants cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.These include heart disease, pulmonary disease, respiratory infections and lung cancer.

世界卫生组织称，那些空气污染物的排放物会引起心血管疾病和呼吸道疾病。这些疾病包括有心脏病、肺病、呼吸道感染以及肺癌。

The WHO says these pollutants are responsible for many of the more than 7 million premature deaths each year that are connected to air pollution.

它还称，每年因空气污染而早逝的人数超过了700万，而造成死亡的主要原因便是这些污染物。

The UN health group also says the pollutants can decrease agricultural crops.These pollutants exist both outdoors and indoors.

联合国健康组织也认为，污染物会降低农作物产量。污染物室内室外无所不在。

WHO Environment Chief Maria Neira says the pollutants have a strong impact on climate change.She says the good news is that they only stay in the atmosphere for a few days to 10 years.That is much shorter than carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, that can remain for hundreds, or even thousands, of years.

世界卫生组织环保署长亚·奈拉说，污染物严重影响了气候的变化。她说，好的消息是，这些污染物在大气中只存在几天到十年的时间。这比温室气体二氧化碳存在的时间短很多，二氧化碳会存在几百年，甚至是上千年。

“The fact that they are short-lived pollutants, when you address them, you can reduce emissions very rapidly,and then improve both air quality as well as slowing the rate of near term climate change.You will have an immediate reduction in the ill-health and diseases caused by the reduction of air pollution.”

“事实上，它们是短期气候污染物质，若解决掉这些污染，排放物会大幅度削减，随后空气质量会得到改善，并延缓近期气候变化的速度。空气污染的减少也会立即减轻对健康损害,并减少许多疾病。”

WHO has a number of available and affordable ways to mitigate these short-lived climate pollutants.At the top of their list: cutting vehicle emissions by requiring higher emissions and efficiency standards.More emissions are released when engines are running.

世界卫生组织有大量可行且廉价的方式，用以缓和这些短期污染物。首当其冲的是：通过要求高的排放和效率标准来降低车辆废气。发动机运转会释放大量尾气。

Indoor air pollution also contributes to bad health and premature death.The WHO reports that nearly 3 billion low-income households rely on “dirty fuels.”Coal, wood and kerosene used for cooking and heating are examples.They say cleaner and more efficient stove and fuel alternatives could cut down on the health risks.

室内空气污染同样对健康不利，并且会导致早逝。世界卫生组织报告，几乎三十亿的低收入家庭依靠“肮脏燃料”生存。比如，他们使用煤炭、木材以及煤油做饭和供暖。他们认为， 干净高效的火炉和替代燃料能够降低健康风险。

Another way they say to cut back on these pollutants is to have more investments and policies for rapid transit.These include buses, trains, bicycles and pedestrian, or walking routes.They say these investments could have many benefits, including safer travel, reduced health risks from noise and air pollution and more physical activity.

另一种降低污染物的方式是，对高速铁路交通进行更多投资以及政策性建设。这些包括公交、火车、自行车、人行道以及徒步路线。世界卫生组织认为，那些投资有诸多利益，比如，旅行更加安全，来自噪音和空气污染的健康风险大大降低，人们会有更多体育活动。

The WHO report also calls for encouraging high- and middle-income populations to include more plant-based foods in their diets.It says this could reduce heart disease and some cancers.It could also slow the methane gas production that comes with some animal-sourced foods.

世界卫生组织报告还呼吁，要鼓励高收入和中层收入家庭增加更多植物源性食品。它可以减少心脏病以及某些癌症。并且，还能减缓来自于某些动物食品生产的沼气。

Words in This Story

cardiovascular – adj. involving the heart and blood vessels

respiratory – adj. having to do with breathing

premature – adj. early, before a normal time

mitigate – v. causing something to be less harsh

emission – n.  act of producing or sending something from a source