波兰工程师研发空气净化设备

 

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.

From Asia to Europe to North America, poor air quality is making people sick and, in some cases, killing¹ them at an early age.

Air pollution causes six million premature² deaths every year worldwide. This number comes from studies done by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Thirty-three of Europe's most polluted cities are in Poland. Part of the reason is how Poles heat their homes. In the winter, many people keep warm by burning coal. Northern China has a similar problem.

And it is a big problem.

Burning coal releases dirty particulate³ matter into the atmosphere.

Particulate matter, sometimes called PM for short, is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets⁴ found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot⁵, or smoke, are so large or dark that we can see them with the naked eye. Others are so small that we can only see them using an electron microscope.

Scientists say particulates⁶, in large amounts, are partly responsible for changes in Earth’s climate and serious health problems.

The WHO is urging governments to set pollution rules for industries and show people how to cook, heat and travel in ways that aren’t so dirty. But in the short-term, we need to create clean technologies and to improve the way we burn fuel.

Polish device cleans air

In Poland, researchers have invented some simple technology that may help to reduce air pollution. The device looks like a normal pipe.

One of the engineers on the project, Robert Kubica, explains how it works. He says the device uses electricity to trap dust in the pipe.

He explains that the electricity turns the ash into “ionized particles,” which fall on the inner part of the pipe. There they are gathered by an automatic ash removal system. From there, they go into an ash box. The remaining gases -- without the ash -- go out of a chimney and into the air.

“The ionized particles are deposited on the inner part of the body where they are gathered by an automatic ash removal system. The ashes go into the ash box, while the exhaust goes into the chimney.”

The Polish researchers say this simple technology probably will not solve the long-term problem of air pollution in their country. However, it will keep the air cleaner in the near future.

Kubica says that from day one, this device immediately reduces the amount of dust released into the air. The researchers say the device will keep 60 to 90 percent of the coal ash from getting into the atmosphere.

Kubica says this technology is a short-term solution. Availability of cleaner-burning fuels depends on Poland’s infrastructure⁷. Setting up public services and systems that will allow for cleaner-burning fuels requires long-term investment.

“From the first day of its work, this device immediately reduces emissions⁹ of dust into the atmosphere. On the other hand, the transition to other cleaner fuels such as gas fuels is mostly dependent on access to infrastructure, and if it’s not there -- then there are long-term investments (that are necessary.)"

This year, several hundred of these devices are being set up in the Polish town of Rybnik – a community known for its poor air quality.

Words in This Story

premature – adj. happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time

particulate matter – n. the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air (also called particle pollution.) Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

naked eye – n. the eye unaided by any instrument that changes the apparent size or distance of an object or otherwise alters visual powers

ionized – v. to convert wholly or partly into ions

automatic – adj. having controls that allow something to work or happen without being directly controlled by a person

exhaust – n. the mixture of gases produced by an engine

chimney – n. a part of a building through which smoke rises into the outside air

deposit – v. to put or leave (someone or something) in a particular place

infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

emission⁸ – n. substances discharged into the air (as by a smokestack or an automobile¹⁰ engine

transition – v. passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

3 particulate   

adj.微小的；n.微粒，粒子

参考例句：

• A special group was organized to dig up the particulate of the case.成立了一个专门小组来查明该案件的各个细节。
• Lungs retain relatively insoluble particulate material.肺脏内留有不溶解的颗粒物质。

4 droplets   

n.小滴( droplet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Droplets of sweat were welling up on his forehead. 他额头上冒出了滴滴汗珠。 来自辞典例句
• In constrast, exhaled smoke contains relatively large water droplets and appears white. 相反，从人嘴里呼出的烟则包含相当大的水滴，所以呈白色。 来自辞典例句

5 soot   

n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟

参考例句：

• Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
• The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。

6 particulates   

n.微粒，粒子( particulate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Techniques for controlling particulates include filtering, washing, centrifugal separation, and electrostatic precipitation. 控制颗粒污染物的技术包括过滤、洗涤、离心分离、静电沉降。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Only micronic particulates penetrate to the depth of the lung. 只有微细粒子穿透到肺深部。 来自辞典例句

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 emission   

n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发

参考例句：

• Rigorous measures will be taken to reduce the total pollutant emission.采取严格有力措施，降低污染物排放总量。
• Finally,the way to effectively control particulate emission is pointed out.最后，指出有效降低颗粒排放的方向。

9 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。

10 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。