6.29 空气污染
Section outline
-
What you will learn
::你会学到什么-
Air pollution and its effect on the Earth's
atmosphere
::空气污染及其对地球大气层的影响
Why is the atmosphere important?
::为什么大气层很重要?Well, it contains all of the air that we breathe. The atmosphere also has other roles and functions, so when we interfere with the atmosphere, we interfere with some important biological processes. And this can have consequences.
::它包含着我们呼吸的所有空气。大气层也有其他的角色和功能, 因此当我们干扰大气层时, 我们干扰一些重要的生物过程。这可能产生后果。The Atmosphere
::大气层The atmosphere plays an important part in maintaining Earth’s freshwater supply. It is part of the . It refills lakes and rivers with precipitation . The atmosphere also provides organisms with gases needed for life. It contains oxygen for and carbon dioxide for .
::大气层在维持地球淡水供应方面起着重要作用。它是地球淡水供应的一部分。它以降水方式填充湖泊和河流。大气也为生物提供了生命所需的气体。它含有氧气和二氧化碳。Air Pollution
::空气污染Air pollution comes from many sources, including waste expelled into the atmosphere by numerous factories. Earth’s atmosphere is vast. However, it has been seriously polluted by human activities. Air pollution consists of chemical substances and particles released into the atmosphere, mainly by human actions. The major cause of outdoor air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels . Power plants, motor vehicles, and home furnaces all burn fossil fuels and contribute to the problem (see Table ). Ranching and using chemicals such as fertilizers also cause air pollution. Erosion of soil in farm fields and construction sites adds dust particles to the air as well. Fumes from building materials, furniture, carpets, and paint add toxic chemicals to indoor air.
::地球的大气层是巨大的。然而,它却受到人类活动的严重污染。空气污染包括化学物质和释放到大气中的微粒,主要是人类的行为。室外空气污染的主要原因是化石燃料的燃烧。电厂、机动车辆和家用炉火炉都燃烧化石燃料,造成问题(见表 ) 。 清理和使用化肥等化学物质也造成了空气污染。 农田和建筑工地土壤的侵蚀也增加了灰尘颗粒到空气中。 建筑材料、家具、地毯和油漆中的烟雾将有毒化学物质添加到室内空气中。Pollutant Example/Major Source Problem Sulfur oxides (SO x ) Coal-fired power plants Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) Motor vehicle exhaust Acid Rain Carbon monoxide (CO) Motor vehicle exhaust Poisoning Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) All fossil fuel burning Particulate matter (smoke, dust) Wood and coal burning Respiratory disease, Global Dimming Mercury Coal-fired power plants, medical waste Neurotoxicity Smog Coal burning Respiratory problems; eye irritation Ground-level ozone Motor vehicle exhaust Respiratory problems; eye irritation In humans, air pollution causes respiratory and cardiovascular problems. In fact, more people die each year from air pollution than automobile accidents. Air pollution also affects worldwide by causing acid rain, , and global warming. Ways to reduce air pollution from fossil fuels include switching to nonpolluting energy sources (such as solar energy) and using less energy. What are some ways you could use less energy?
::在人类中,空气污染造成呼吸道和心血管问题。事实上,每年死于空气污染的人比汽车事故多。 空气污染还在全世界造成酸雨、全球升温。 减少来自化石燃料的空气污染的方法包括转向无污染能源(如太阳能)和使用较少的能源。你可以用什么方法减少能源的使用?Acid Rain
::酸酸雨雨All life relies on a relatively narrow range of pH, or acidity. That’s because structure and function are very sensitive to pH. Air pollution can cause precipitation to become acidic. Nitrogen and sulfur oxides, mainly from motor vehicle exhaust and coal burning, create acids when they combine with in the air. The acids lower the pH of precipitation, forming acid rain . If acid rain falls on the ground, it may damage soil and soil organisms. If it falls on plants, it may kill them (see Figure ). If it falls into lakes, it lowers the pH of the water and kills .
::所有生命都依赖于相对狭窄的pH值或酸度范围。这是因为结构和功能对pH值非常敏感。 空气污染可能导致降水变成酸性。 氮和硫氧化物,主要来自机动车排气和燃煤,在与空气结合时会产生酸性。 酸会降低降水pH值,形成酸雨。 如果酸雨落在地面上,可能会损害土壤和土壤生物。 如果酸雨落在植物上,可能会杀死土壤和土壤生物(见图 ) 。 如果掉进湖泊,就会降低水的pH值并杀死水。Effects of Acid Rain. These trees in a European forest were killed by acid rain. Ozone Depletion
::臭氧消耗There are two types of ozone . You can think of them as bad ozone and good ozone. Both are affected by air pollution.
::臭氧有两种类型。你可以把它们看作是坏的臭氧和好的臭氧。两者都受到空气污染的影响。-
Bad ozone forms near the ground when sunlight reacts with pollutants in the air. Ground-level ozone is harmful to the respiratory systems of humans and other
.
::地面臭氧对人类和其他人的呼吸系统有害。 -
Good ozone forms in a thin layer high up in the atmosphere, between 15 and 35 kilometers above Earth’s surface. This ozone layer shields Earth from most of the sun’s harmful
UV radiation
. It plays an important role in preventing
in the
of organisms.
::这个臭氧层保护着地球免受大部分太阳有害紫外辐射的危害,在防止生物体中起着重要作用。
Unfortunately, the layer of good ozone is being destroyed by air pollution. The chief culprits are chlorine and bromine gases. They are released in aerosol sprays, coolants, and other products. Loss of ozone has created an ozone hole over Antarctica. Ozone depletion results in higher levels of UV radiation reaching Earth. In humans, this increases skin cancers and eye cataracts. It also disturbs the , kills plankton, and disrupts ocean food webs . The total loss of the ozone layer would be devastating to most life. Its rate of loss has slowed with restrictions on pollutants, but it is still at risk.
::不幸的是,好的臭氧层正被空气污染所摧毁。主要的罪魁祸首是氯和溴气。它们排放在气雾剂喷雾剂、冷却剂和其他产品中。臭氧损失在南极洲上空造成了臭氧空洞。臭氧消耗导致进入地球的紫外线辐射水平升高。在人类中,这增加了皮肤癌和眼白内障。它也扰乱了海洋食物网,杀死浮游生物,扰乱了海洋食物网。臭氧层的全部损失将给大多数生命带来毁灭性影响。随着污染物的限制,其损失速度已经放慢,但仍然处于危险之中。
Summary
::摘要-
Air pollution consists of chemical substances and particles released into the air, mainly by human actions.
::空气污染由化学物质和释放到空气中的微粒组成,主要是由人类行为造成的。 -
The major cause of outdoor air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels.
::室外空气污染的主要原因是燃烧化石燃料。 -
Indoor air can also be polluted.
::室内空气也可能受到污染。 -
Air pollution causes acid rain, ozone depletion, and global warming.
::空气污染导致酸雨、臭氧消耗和全球升温。
Review
::回顾-
What two environmental effects are mainly associated with the burning of fossil fuels?
::哪些两种环境影响主要与燃烧矿物燃料有关? -
Explain how air pollution is related to acid rain and ozone depletion.
::解释空气污染如何与酸雨和臭氧消耗相关。 -
What benefits does the ozone layer provide?
::臭氧层可带来哪些惠益?
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Air pollution and its effect on the Earth's
atmosphere
