Motor vehicles are not the only air polluters. Coal and oil, used to heat homes and factories and to generate electricity, contain small amounts of sulfur. When the fuels are burned, sulfur dioxide, a poisonous gas, is produced. It is irritating to the lungs. Some cities have passed laws that allow coal and oil to be burned only if their sulfur content is low.
汽车不是唯一的空气污染。煤炭和石油,用于家庭取暖和工厂,并产生电力,含有少量的硫。当燃料燃烧,二氧化硫,一种有毒气体,就产生了。它是刺激到肺部。一些城市已通过法律,允许煤炭和石油只有在其被烧毁硫含量低。
Most electricity is generated by steam turbines. About half of the sulfur dioxide in the air comes from burning fuel to make steam. Nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, so there is no air pollution of the ordinary kind. But the radioactive materials in these plants could present a danger in an accident. Also, there is a problem in disposing of the radioactive wastes in a way that will not endanger the environment.
大部分电力是由蒸汽涡轮机。关于空气中的二氧化硫,使蒸汽一半来自燃料燃烧。核电厂不烧燃料,所以不存在的那种普通的空气污染。但是,在这些植物的放射性物质可能会提出一个意外的危险。此外,还有一个在放射性废物处置的方式,不会危害环境的问题。
Another type of pollution, called thermal (heat) pollution, is caused by both the fuel-burning and nuclear plants. Both need huge amounts of cold water, which is warmed as it cools the steam. When it is returned to the river, the warm water may stimulate the growth of weeds. It may also kill fish and their eggs, or interfere with their growth.
另一种污染类型,称为热(热)污染,是造成双方的燃料燃烧和核电厂。双方都需要的冷水,这是温暖,因为它大量的蒸汽冷却。当返回到河边,温暖的水会刺激杂草生长。它也可以杀死鱼,它们的卵,或干扰他们的成长。
Physicists are studying new ways of generating electricity that may be less damaging to the environment. In the meantime, many power plants are being modernized to give off less polluting material. Also, engineers try to design and locate new power plants to do minimum damage to the environment.
物理学家们正在研究发电对环境损害较小的新方法。与此同时,许多发电厂也在实现现代化以减少污染物质。此外,工程师们尝试设计并找到对环境的损害最小的新的发电厂。
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