Billions of people still breathe unhealthy air: new WHO data
世衛(wèi)組織新數(shù)據(jù)：數(shù)十億人仍呼吸著不健康的空氣
Almost the entire global population (99%) breathes air that exceeds WHO air quality limits, and threatens their health. A record number of over 6000 cities in 117 countries are now monitoring air quality, but the people living in them are still breathing unhealthy levels of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, with people in low and middle-income countries suffering the highest exposures.
幾乎全球人口（99%）呼吸的空氣都超過(guò)了世衛(wèi)組織的空氣質(zhì)量限制，威脅著他們的健康。117個(gè)國(guó)家的6000多個(gè)城市正在監(jiān)測(cè)空氣質(zhì)量，這一數(shù)字創(chuàng)下了歷史新高，但生活在這些城市的人們?nèi)栽谖氩唤】邓降募?xì)顆粒物和二氧化氮，其中中低收入國(guó)家的人們受到的影響最大。
fine particulate [pɑ??t?kj?l?t] matter 細(xì)顆粒物
nitrogen [?na?tr?d??n] dioxide 二氧化氮
The findings have prompted the World Health Organization to highlight the importance of curbing fossil fuel use and taking other tangible steps to reduce air pollution levels.
這些發(fā)現(xiàn)促使世界衛(wèi)生組織強(qiáng)調(diào)限制化石燃料的使用和采取其他切實(shí)措施來(lái)降低空氣污染水平的重要性。
curb [k??b] v. 限制，抑制，控制
tangible [?t?nd??b(?)l] adj. 清晰明確的，具體的，切實(shí)的，有形的
Released in the lead-up to World Health Day, which this year celebrates the theme Our planet, our health, the 2022 update of the World Health Organization’s air quality database introduces, for the first time, ground measurements of annual mean concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), a common urban pollutant and precursor of particulate matter and ozone. It also includes measurements of particulate matter with diameters equal or smaller than 10 μm (PM10) or 2.5 μm (PM2.5). Both groups of pollutants originate mainly from human activities related to fossil fuel combustion.
在今年主題為“我們的地球，我們的健康”的世界衛(wèi)生日前夕，世界衛(wèi)生組織空氣質(zhì)量數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)的2022年更新首次引入了二氧化氮（NO2）年平均濃度的地面測(cè)量結(jié)果，二氧化氮是一種常見(jiàn)的城市污染物，也是顆粒物和臭氧的前體。更新還包括測(cè)量直徑等于或小于10微米（PM10）或2.5微米（PM2.5）的顆粒物。這兩類(lèi)污染物主要來(lái)自與化石燃料燃燒有關(guān)的人類(lèi)活動(dòng)。
lead-up 前奏，先導(dǎo)階段
precursor [pri?k??s?(r)] n. 先驅(qū)，前兆
combustion [k?m?b?st??n] n. 燃燒
The new air quality database is the most extensive yet in its coverage of air pollution exposure on the ground. Some 2,000 more cities/human settlements are now recording ground monitoring data for particulate matter – PM10 and/or PM2.5 – than the last update. This marks an almost 6-fold rise in reporting since the database was launched in 2011.
新的空氣質(zhì)量數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)是迄今覆蓋地面空氣污染暴露最廣泛的數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)。與上次更新相比，現(xiàn)在記錄顆粒物、PM10和/或PM2.5的地面監(jiān)測(cè)數(shù)據(jù)的城市/人類(lèi)住區(qū)多了約2000個(gè)。這標(biāo)志著自2011年該數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)啟動(dòng)以來(lái)，報(bào)告數(shù)量增加了近6倍。
extensive [?k?stens?v] adj. 廣泛的，廣闊的，巨大的
Meanwhile, the evidence base for the damage air pollution does to the human body has been growing rapidly and points to significant harm caused by even low levels of many air pollutants.
與此同時(shí)，空氣污染對(duì)人體造成損害的證據(jù)基礎(chǔ)一直在快速增長(zhǎng)，證據(jù)表明許多空氣污染物即使水平很低也會(huì)造成嚴(yán)重的危害。
Particulate matter, especially PM2.5, is capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and entering the bloodstream, causing cardiovascular, cerebrovascular (stroke) and respiratory impacts. There is emerging evidence that particulate matter impacts other organs and causes other diseases as well.
顆粒物，尤其是PM2.5，能夠深入肺部并進(jìn)入血液，對(duì)心血管、腦血管（中風(fēng)）和呼吸系統(tǒng)造成影響。有新的證據(jù)表明，顆粒物會(huì)影響其他器官，也會(huì)導(dǎo)致其他疾病。
penetrate [?pen?tre?t] v. 進(jìn)入，穿透，滲入，打入
cardiovascular [?kɑ?di???v?skj?l?(r)] adj. 心血管的
cerebrovascular [?ser?br???v?skj?l?(r)] adj. 腦血管的
respiratory [r??sp?r?t(?)ri] adj. 呼吸的
NO2 is associated with respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, leading to respiratory symptoms (such as coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing), hospital admissions and visits to emergency rooms
NO2與呼吸系統(tǒng)疾病相關(guān)，尤其是哮喘，導(dǎo)致呼吸系統(tǒng)癥狀（如咳嗽、喘息或呼吸困難）、住院和急診。
asthma [??sm?] n. 哮喘，氣喘
wheeze [wi?z] v. 喘息
WHO last year revised its Air Quality Guidelines, making them more stringent in an effort to help countries better evaluate the healthiness of their own air.
世衛(wèi)組織去年修訂了空氣質(zhì)量指南，使其更加嚴(yán)格，以幫助各國(guó)更好地評(píng)估本國(guó)空氣的健康程度。
stringent [?str?nd??nt] adj. 嚴(yán)格的；緊縮的
“Current energy concerns highlight the importance of speeding up the transition to cleaner, healthier energy systems,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “High fossil fuel prices, energy security, and the urgency of addressing the twin health challenges of air pollution and climate change, underscore the pressing need to move faster towards a world that is much less dependent on fossil fuels.”
“當(dāng)前的能源問(wèn)題凸顯了加快向更清潔、更健康的能源系統(tǒng)過(guò)渡的重要性，”世衛(wèi)組織總干事譚德塞博士說(shuō)。“高昂的化石燃料價(jià)格、能源安全以及應(yīng)對(duì)空氣污染和氣候變化這兩大健康挑戰(zhàn)的緊迫性，突顯出加快建設(shè)一個(gè)更少依賴(lài)化石燃料的世界的迫切需要。”
underscore [??nd??sk??(r)] v. 強(qiáng)調(diào)；在…下面劃線(xiàn)
Steps governments can take to improve air quality and health
政府可以采取的改善空氣質(zhì)量和健康的措施
A number of governments are taking steps to improve air quality, but WHO is calling for a rapid intensification of actions to:
一些政府正在采取措施來(lái)改善空氣質(zhì)量，但世衛(wèi)組織呼吁迅速加強(qiáng)行動(dòng)，目的是：
intensification [?n?tens?f??ke??n] n. 強(qiáng)化，加劇
adopt or revise and implement national air quality standards according to the latest WHO Air Quality Guidelines;
根據(jù)最新的世衛(wèi)組織空氣質(zhì)量指南，通過(guò)或修訂并實(shí)施國(guó)家空氣質(zhì)量標(biāo)準(zhǔn)
monitor air quality and identify sources of air pollution;
監(jiān)測(cè)空氣質(zhì)量并確定空氣污染源
support the transition to exclusive use of clean household energy for cooking, heating and lighting;
支持向烹飪、取暖和照明專(zhuān)用清潔家庭能源過(guò)渡
build safe and affordable public transport systems and pedestrian- and cycle-friendly networks;
建設(shè)安全和負(fù)擔(dān)得起的公共交通系統(tǒng)以及方便行人和自行車(chē)的網(wǎng)絡(luò)
implement stricter vehicle emissions and efficiency standards; and enforce mandatory inspection and maintenance for vehicles;
實(shí)施更嚴(yán)格的車(chē)輛排放和效率標(biāo)準(zhǔn)；并對(duì)車(chē)輛實(shí)施強(qiáng)制性檢查和維修
invest in energy-efficient housing and power generation;
投資于節(jié)能住宅和發(fā)電
improve industry and municipal waste management;
改善工業(yè)和城市廢物管理
reduce agricultural waste incineration, forest fires and certain agro-forestry activities (e.g. charcoal production); and
減少農(nóng)業(yè)廢物焚燒、森林火災(zāi)和某些農(nóng)林活動(dòng)（如木炭生產(chǎn)）
include air pollution in curricula for health professionals and providing tools for the health sector to engage.
將空氣污染納入衛(wèi)生專(zhuān)業(yè)人員的課程，并為衛(wèi)生部門(mén)的參與提供工具。
pedestrian [p??destri?n] n. 行人 adj. 行人的；平庸乏味的
maintenance [?me?nt?n?ns] n. 維持，保持，保養(yǎng)
incineration [?n?s?n??re??(?)n] n. 焚化
Higher income countries see lower particulate pollution, but most cities have trouble with nitrogen dioxide
高收入國(guó)家的顆粒物污染水平較低，但大多數(shù)城市都有二氧化氮的問(wèn)題
In the 117 countries monitoring air quality, the air in 17% of cities in high-income countries fall below the WHO’s Air Quality Guidelines for PM2.5 or PM10. In low- and middle-income countries, air quality in less than 1% of the cities complies with WHO recommended thresholds.
在監(jiān)測(cè)空氣質(zhì)量的117個(gè)國(guó)家中，高收入國(guó)家17%的城市空氣質(zhì)量低于世衛(wèi)組織PM2.5或PM10的空氣質(zhì)量指南。在中低收入國(guó)家，不到1%的城市空氣質(zhì)量符合世衛(wèi)組織建議的閾值。
threshold [?θre?h??ld] n. 閾值，界限；門(mén)檻，門(mén)口
Globally, low- and middle-income countries still experience greater exposure to unhealthy levels of PM compared to the global average, but NO2 patterns are different, showing less difference between the high- and low- and middle-income countries.
從全球來(lái)看，與全球平均水平相比，中低收入國(guó)家仍然更多地暴露于不健康的PM水平，但NO2模式有所不同，表明高收入和低收入及中等收入國(guó)家之間的差異較小。
About 4000 cities/human settlements in 74 countries collect NO2 data at ground level. Aggregated, their measurements show that only 23% of people in these places breathe annual average concentrations of NO2 that meet levels in the recently updated version of WHO’s Air Quality Guidelines.
74個(gè)國(guó)家的大約4000個(gè)城市/人類(lèi)住區(qū)在地面收集NO2數(shù)據(jù)?？偟膩?lái)說(shuō)，其測(cè)量結(jié)果表明，這些地方只有23%的人吸入的二氧化氮的年平均濃度符合世衛(wèi)組織空氣質(zhì)量指南最新版本的水平。
aggregate [??gr?g?t] v. 合計(jì) adj. 總計(jì)的，合計(jì)的
“After surviving a pandemic, it is unacceptable to still have 7 million preventable deaths and countless preventable lost years of good health due to air pollution. That’s what we’re saying when we look at the mountain of air pollution data, evidence, and solutions available. Yet too many investments are still being sunk into a polluted environment rather than in clean, healthy air,” said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health.
“在經(jīng)歷了大流行之后，仍然有700萬(wàn)例本可預(yù)防的死亡，以及無(wú)數(shù)本可預(yù)防的因空氣污染而失去健康的歲月，這是不可接受的。當(dāng)我們看到大量空氣污染數(shù)據(jù)、證據(jù)和可用的解決方案時(shí)，這就是我們要說(shuō)的。然而，仍有太多的投資被投入到污染的環(huán)境中，而不是清潔、健康的空氣中，”世衛(wèi)組織環(huán)境、氣候變化和健康司司長(zhǎng)Maria Neira博士說(shuō)。
preventable [pr??vent?bl] adj. 可預(yù)防的，可阻止的
