How to Reduce Risks of Bad Air Quality
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Air quality differs from place to place and day to day. But about 99 percent of the world’s population breathes air at some point that does not meet pollution guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
空气质量因地而异、因时而异。 但世界上约 99% 的人口在某些时候呼吸的空气不符合世界卫生组织 (WHO) 制定的污染准则。
Different forms of air pollution kill about 7 million people each year, the U.N. health agency estimates. But health experts say there are some actions individuals can take to protect themselves, even in the world’s most polluted cities.
联合国卫生机构估计，不同形式的空气污染每年导致约 700 万人死亡。 但健康专家表示，即使在世界上污染最严重的城市，个人也可以采取一些行动来保护自己。
The first step is to start with the understanding that air is not only polluted when it looks smoky or smoggy, said Tanushree Ganguly. She is an air quality expert with the Energy Policy Institute of Chicago’s India program.
塔努什里·甘古利 (Tanushree Ganguly) 表示，第一步是首先要认识到，空气不仅在看起来冒烟或烟雾缭绕时才被污染。 她是芝加哥能源政策研究所印度项目的空气质量专家。
“Blue skies can’t guarantee you clean air,” Ganguly told The Associated Press.
“蓝天并不能保证空气清洁，”甘古利告诉美联社。
Pollutants and their sources Air pollutants often come from people burning things.
污染物及其来源 空气污染物通常来自人们燃烧的东西。
Examples include fuels as well as clearing operations involving crops or trees. Pollutants can also be released from wildfires. Among the most dangerous particles we can breathe in are called particulate matter.
例子包括燃料以及涉及农作物或树木的清理作业。 野火也会释放污染物。 我们可以吸入的最危险的颗粒物称为颗粒物。
The smallest of these are known as PM 2.5. This is because they are less than 2.5 microns in diameter. These particles can travel deep inside human lungs and are mostly created by burning fuels. Larger particles, known as PM 10, are linked to agriculture, roadways, mining or wind-blown dust. Other dangerous pollutants include gases like nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide, which are also produced from burning fuels.
其中最小的称为 PM 2.5。 这是因为它们的直径小于 2.5 微米。 这些颗粒可以深入人体肺部，主要是由燃烧燃料产生的。 较大的颗粒（称为 PM 10）与农业、道路、采矿或风吹尘埃有关。 其他危险污染物包括二氧化氮或二氧化硫等气体，这些气体也是由燃烧燃料产生的。
This information comes from Anumita Roychowdhury, an air pollution expert at the Center for Science and Environment in New Delhi. The American-based Health Effects Institute says air pollution is the second-largest risk factor for early death worldwide, behind high blood pressure.
此信息来自新德里科学与环境中心的空气污染专家阿努米塔·罗伊乔杜里 (Anumita Roychowdhury)。 总部位于美国的健康影响研究所表示，空气污染是全球早逝的第二大风险因素，仅次于高血压。
Short-term exposure can cause asthma attacks and increase the risk of heart attacks and stroke, especially in older people and those with existing medical problems.
短期接触会导致哮喘发作并增加心脏病发作和中风的风险，特别是对于老年人和存在健康问题的人。
Long-term exposure can cause serious heart and lung problems that can lead to death. A recent study by the U.N. children’s agency UNICEF found that more than 500 million children in East Asia and Pacific countries breathe unhealthy air.
长期接触会导致严重的心脏和肺部问题，甚至导致死亡。 联合国儿童基金会最近的一项研究发现，东亚和太平洋国家有超过 5 亿儿童呼吸着不健康的空气。
The pollution is linked to the deaths of 100 children under age 5 every day. June Kunugi, UNICEF’s Regional Director for East Asia, said the polluted air limits growth, harms lungs and affects thinking abilities. “Every breath matters, but for too many children every breath can bring harm,” she said.
污染每天导致 100 名 5 岁以下儿童死亡。 联合国儿童基金会东亚区域主任琼·库努吉 (June Kunugi) 表示，受污染的空气限制了生长，损害肺部并影响思维能力。 “每次呼吸都很重要，但对于太多孩子来说，每次呼吸都会带来伤害，”她说。
How to tell if air is safe?
如何判断空气是否安全？
Over 6,000 cities in 117 countries now record and follow air quality levels.
目前，117 个国家的 6,000 多个城市记录并跟踪空气质量水平。
Many mobile apps include air quality information as well. But it can be difficult to know how bad the air is by looking at these numbers. To help people better understand air quality levels, many countries have established an air quality index, or AQI.
许多移动应用程序也包含空气质量信息。 但仅通过这些数字很难知道空气质量有多差。 为了帮助人们更好地了解空气质量水平，许多国家建立了空气质量指数（AQI）。
Larger numbers on this index mean worse air. Different countries have different air quality standards.
该指数的数字越大意味着空气质量越差。 不同国家有不同的空气质量标准。
For example, India’s daily PM 2.5 limit is more than 1.5 times higher than in Thailand and 4 times higher than WHO standards. How can you protect yourself?
例如，印度每日PM 2.5限值比泰国高1.5倍以上，比世界卫生组织标准高4倍。 你如何保护自己？
For individuals, experts say the goal should be to limit exposure when air quality is bad, by staying indoors or wearing a mask.
专家表示，对于个人来说，目标应该是在空气质量不好时通过呆在室内或戴口罩来限制接触。
This is not always possible, though. Danny Djarum is with the World Resources Institute. He told the AP there are many people who live or work outside and “can’t really afford” to stay indoors. People also need to watch indoor air pollution that can be caused by common household activities like cooking or burning incense.
但这并不总是可能的。 丹尼·贾鲁姆 (Danny Djarum) 供职于世界资源研究所。 他告诉美联社，有很多人在外面生活或工作，“真的负担不起”呆在室内。 人们还需要注意做饭或烧香等常见家庭活动可能造成的室内空气污染。
What are the benefits — and limitations — of air purifiers?
空气净化器有哪些优点和局限性？
While air purifiers can help reduce indoor air pollution, experts say they do have limitations.
虽然空气净化器可以帮助减少室内空气污染，但专家表示它们确实有局限性。
The devices work by pulling air from a room and then pushing it through a filter that traps pollutants. The filtered air is then sent back into the room. Air purifiers work best when used in small spaces and when people are nearby.
这些设备的工作原理是从房间中抽出空气，然后将其推过捕获污染物的过滤器。 过滤后的空气然后被送回房间。 空气净化器在狭小空间和有人在附近时效果最佳。
This is because they can only clean a certain amount of air, said Rajasekhar Balasubramanian of the National University of Singapore. He added, “If we have a tiny air purifier in a large room, it won’t be effective.” Aniruddha Ghosal reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________ smog - n. a kind of air pollution that can consist of smoke, gases, chemicals, etc. factor - n. something that contributes to the production of a result expose – v. to subject to risk from a harmful condition asthma – n. a kind of a chronic lung disorder standard – n. something established by authority as a rule for the measure of quality afford – v. to be able to pay for incense – n. a kind of material used to produce a pleasant smell when burned filter – n. to pass a liquid or gas through a piece of equipment in order to remove solid pieces or other substances
新加坡国立大学的 Rajasekhar Balasubramanian 表示，这是因为它们只能净化一定量的空气。 他补充道，“如果我们在一个大房间里放一个微型空气净化器，它不会有效。” Aniruddha Ghosal 为美联社报道了这个故事。 约翰·拉塞尔将其改编为美国之音英语学习频道。 _______________________________________________________ 烟雾 - n.一种由烟雾、气体、化学物质等组成的空气污染。 因素 - n.有助于产生结果的东西 暴露 - v. 遭受有害状况的风险 哮喘 – n.一种慢性肺部疾病 标准 – n.由权威机构制定的作为质量衡量规则的东西 负担得起 - v. 能够支付 香 – n.一种燃烧时产生令人愉悦的气味的材料 过滤器 – n.使液体或气体通过设备以去除固体碎片或其他物质