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  • 空气污染和疾病

    Is some air actually bad for you?
    ::空气对你有坏处吗?

    This question shouldn't even need an answer. Yes, some air can be harmful.
    ::这个问题根本不需要答案

    Air Pollution and Illness
    ::空气污染和疾病

    An estimated 4.6 million people die each year because of , significantly more than the 1.2 million that die each year in traffic accidents. Air pollution is not limited to outdoor air pollution; indoor air can also be polluted and can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular illness.
    ::估计每年有460万人死于交通事故,大大超过每年120万人死于交通事故,空气污染不仅限于室外空气污染;室内空气也可能受到污染,并可能导致呼吸道和心血管疾病。

    In January 2013, the air quality in China made international news as satellite images showed brown clouds hovering over Beijing (see  Figure ). 
    ::2013年1月,中国的空气质量成为国际新闻,因为卫星图像显示北京上空漂浮着褐色云层(见图 )。

    Pollution over Beijing, January 2013

    Pollution over Beijing, January 2013.
    ::北京污染,2013年1月。

    Outdoor Air Pollution
    ::室外空气污染

    The concentration of pollutants in outdoor air is indicated by the Air Quality Index . The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a measure of certain pollutants in the air in a given location. The health risks associated with different values of the AQI are shown in Table . When the AQI is high, you should limit the time you spend outdoors, especially the time you spend exercising. Avoiding exposure to air pollution can help limit its impact on your health. As you can see from Table , people with certain health problems, including asthma , need to be even more careful about limiting their exposure to air pollution.
    ::室外空气中污染物的浓度由空气质量指数来表示。空气质量指数(AQI)是特定地点空气中某些污染物的量度。与AQI不同值相关的健康风险见表 。当AQI高时,应限制户外时间,特别是锻炼时间。避免空气污染有助于限制对健康的影响。您可以从表格中看到,患有某些健康问题的人,包括哮喘病,需要更加小心地限制他们受空气污染的影响。

    Air Quality and Health Risk
    Air Quality Index (AQI) Quality of Air in Terms of Human Health
    0–50 Good
    51–100 Moderate
    101–150 Unhealthy for sensitive groups
    151–200 Unhealthy for everyone
    201–300 Very unhealthy
    301–500 Hazardous

    Consider again the image of pollution in Beijing on January 14th shown in Figure . The AQI on this date was 341, and the Chinese government recommended that everyone remain indoors for their own protection. AQI reports to the public generally refer to levels of ground-level ozone and particulates .
    ::1月14日北京污染的景象在图14中再次出现。 AQI 当天为341,中国政府建议每个人留在室内保护自己。 AQI 向公众提交的报告一般都提到地面臭氧和微粒的水平。

    Ozone, or O 3 , forms through a chemical reaction between ultraviolet light and diatomic oxygen, O 2 . O 2 is commonly found in air pollutants, including NO 2 , a common output of vehicular combustion engines. When found near ground level, ozone's chemical characteristics are incredibly dangerous, damaging mucus and respiratory systems in mammals . Ozone exposure can cause asthma, decrease lung function, and convert cholesterol in arteries to plaque , causing . Additionally, ozone may increase inflammation, a symptom of many diseases. Nonetheless, ozone isn't all bad. 10 to 50 km (6 to 31 miles) above the surface, the same chemical reactions with ultraviolet light that make ozone harmful at the surface prevent the strongest UV rays from penetrating through the atmosphere .
    ::通过紫外线光和二亚原子氧之间的化学反应形成的臭氧,即O3、O3、O2、O2通常存在于空气污染物中,包括NO2,这是车辆燃烧引擎的常见输出物。在接近地面水平时,臭氧的化学特性非常危险,对哺乳动物的肌肉和呼吸系统造成破坏。臭氧暴露可造成哮喘,降低肺功能,并将动脉中的胆固醇转化为塑料,造成。此外,臭氧可能增加炎症,这是许多疾病的症状。然而,臭氧并非全都坏透了。在地表上10至50公里(6至31英里)处,与紫外线的化学反应相同,使臭氧在表面有害,防止最强的紫外线从大气穿透。

    Particulates are particles of solids or liquids less than 10 µm across that are suspended in the air. Particulates are dangerous because they are small enough to pass through the lungs and into the bloodstream, where they can travel throughout the body. There is also evidence that particulates under 100nm across are small enough to pass through the into the , where they cause further damage. The most concentrated particulate pollution tends to be in the air over densely populated metropolitan areas in developing countries. Some naturally occurring particulates exist including sea spray, volcanic eruptions, and fires. However, the primary cause of atmospheric particulates is the burning of fossil fuels by motor vehicles and factories. Larger particulates settle in airways and lungs and damage the respiratory tract , causing asthma and lung . Smaller particulates often accumulate in the bloodstream, contributing to plaque buildup in arteries.
    ::在空气中悬浮的固体或液体的颗粒或不到10微米的液体,是悬浮在空气中的颗粒,这种颗粒是危险的,因为它们小到足以穿过肺部和进入血液流,可以贯穿整个身体。还有证据表明,100毫米以下的颗粒小到足以穿过气流,造成进一步损害。最集中的颗粒污染往往在发展中国家人口稠密的都市地区上空形成。一些自然产生的微粒存在,包括海上喷雾、火山爆发和火灾。然而,大气微粒的主要原因是机动车辆和工厂燃烧化石燃料。较大的颗粒沉积在气道和肺部,损害呼吸道,造成哮喘和肺部。小颗粒往往聚集在血液流中,导致动脉中的塑料积聚。

    Indoor Air Pollution
    ::室内空气污染

    Indoor air quality refers to pollutants in the air inside buildings. Indoor air may be more polluted than outdoor air, although with different pollutants. Typical pollutants in indoor air include allergens , , , carbon monoxide , and radon .
    ::室内空气质量指建筑物内空气中的污染物,室内空气可能比室外空气污染更多,尽管有不同的污染物,室内空气中的典型污染物包括过敏、、一氧化碳和。

    Mold and bacteria can be allergens and also cause infections. For example, a type of pneumonia , known as Legionnaire’s disease, is caused by bacteria that can spread through air conditioning systems. The disease is not common, but it kills many of the people who contract it.
    ::发霉和细菌可以是过敏基因,也可以导致感染。 比如,一种被称为军团病的肺炎是由可以通过空调系统传播的细菌引起的。 疾病并不常见,但会杀死许多感染者。

    Carbon monoxide, CO, is a gas produced by cars, furnaces, and other devices that burn fuel. It replaces oxygen in the and quickly leads to death. Initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, listlessness, and other flu-like symptoms. Loss of consciousness and death can occur within hours. An estimated 40,000 Americans annually seek medical attention for carbon monoxide poisoning. It is the most common type of fatal poisoning in the US. Carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, but it can be detected with carbon monoxide detectors like the one in Figure .
    ::二氧化碳(CO)是汽车、炉炉和其他燃烧燃料的装置产生的气体。它取代了氧气,并很快导致死亡。一氧化碳中毒的最初症状包括头痛、无列表和其他类似流感的症状。 失去意识和死亡可能在几小时内发生。 估计每年有40,000名美国人在一氧化碳中毒时寻求医疗护理。 这是美国最常见的致命中毒类型。 一氧化碳没有颜色,没有气味,但可以通过碳一氧化物检测器检测到,如图1所示。

    Home carbon monoxide detector

    A carbon monoxide detector for the home.
    ::家用的一氧化碳探测器

    Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a combination of symptoms associated with working in a particular building, typically an office building. It is most common in new and remodeled buildings and is usually caused by inadequate ventilation . Chemicals released by new building materials may also contribute to the poor air quality. Symptoms of SBS vary widely and may include headaches, eye irritation, dry coughing, dizziness, and asthma.
    ::病态建筑综合症(SBS)与在特定建筑物(通常是办公楼)工作有关的症状综合在一起,在新建和改建的建筑物中最为常见,通常由通风不足造成,新建筑材料释放的化学品也可能造成空气质量差。 SBS的症状大相径庭,可能包括头痛、眼刺激、干咳嗽、眩晕和哮喘。

       

     

    Summary
    ::摘要

    • Air pollution is a problem both indoors and outdoors.
      ::室内和户外都存在空气污染问题。
    • Outdoor air pollution is primarily caused by particulates and ozone.
      ::室外空气污染主要是微粒和臭氧造成的。

    Review
    ::回顾

    1. What are the common air pollutants?
      ::什么是普通的空气污染物?
    2. Describe the Air Quality Index.
      ::描述空气质量指数。
    3. What is SBS?
      ::什么是SBS? (SBS)? (SBS: SBS: SBS: SBS: SBS: SBS: SBS: SBS)什么是SBS?