TED演讲:石油真正的代价(5)

 The tailings ponds are the largest toxic¹ impoundments on the planet.  那些残渣池是世上最大的毒性蓄水池

Oil sands-r rather I should say tar² sands-oil sands is a P.R.-created term， 油砂－或者我该称它为沥青砂－油砂是公关部门创造的词汇，

so that the oil companies wouldn't be trying to promote something that sounds like a sticky tar-like substance that's the world's dirtiest oil. 使石油公司不至于像是推广某种彷佛沥青般黏稠的物质或世上最脏的油。

So they decided³ to call it oil sands.  因此他们决定称它为油砂。

The tar sands consume more water than any other oil process,  沥青砂的生产过程比其他油类消耗更多水，

three to five barrels of water are taken, polluted and then returned into tailings ponds,  生产一桶原油 需使用三至五桶水，受污染的水进入残渣池，

the largest toxic impoundments on the planet.  成为世上最大的毒性蓄水池。

SemCrude, just one of the licensees, SemCrude in just one of their tailings ponds,  只是其中一家取得执照的公司，在他们拥有的其中一个残渣池中，

dumps 250,000 tons of this toxic gunk every single day.  每日倒入25万吨毒性黏稠物。

That's creating the largest toxic impoundments in the history of the planet.  创造出有史以来最大的毒性蓄水池。

So far, this is enough toxin⁴ to cover the face of Lake Eerie⁵ a foot deep.  目前为止，其中的毒性物质足以覆盖伊利湖面一呎深。

And the tailings ponds range in size up to 9,000 acres.  残渣池的面积可达9000英亩。

That's two-thirds the size of the entire island of Manhattan.  相当于三分之二个曼哈顿岛。

That's like from Wall Street at the southern edge of Manhattan up to maybe 120th Street. 大约从曼哈顿南端的华尔街到第120街。

So this is an absolutely-this is one of the larger tailings ponds.  因此这确实是－这是其中较大的残渣池之一.

This might be, what? I don't know, half the size of Manhattan.  大约相当于－我不确定－半个曼哈顿岛.

And you can see in the context,  你可由之前的叙述得知,

it's just a relatively⁶ small section of one of 10 mining complexes and another 40 to 50 on stream to be approved soon. 这只是十个矿场中某个矿场的一小部分，其他四、五十个矿场很快就会获得批准.

And of course, these tailings ponds-well, you can't see many ponds from outer space and you can see these, so maybe we should stop calling them ponds, 当然，这些残渣池－确实，你无法从外太空看见许多残渣池,但你可以看见这些因此或许我们不该称它为池,

these massive toxic wastelands are built unlined and on the banks of the Athabasca River.  这些大型毒性废料池并未装设防护措施散布于阿萨帕斯卡尔河沿岸.

1 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。

2 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 toxin   

n.毒素，毒质

参考例句：

• Experts have linked this condition to a build-up of toxins in the body.专家已把这一病症与体内毒素的积累联系起来。
• Tests showed increased levels of toxin in shellfish.检验表明水生有壳动物的毒素水平提高了。

5 eerie   

adj.怪诞的；奇异的；可怕的；胆怯的

参考例句：

• It's eerie to walk through a dark wood at night.夜晚在漆黑的森林中行走很是恐怖。
• I walked down the eerie dark path.我走在那条漆黑恐怖的小路上。

6 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。