VOA慢速英语2019 联合国:海水淡化工厂危害环境

UN: Water Desalination¹ Factories Harm Environment

A recent United Nations report has found desalination harmful to the environment. Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater for use by humans and in agriculture.

联合国最近的一份报告发现，海水淡化对环境有害。所谓“海水淡化”是指将海水中的盐分去除以供人类和农业使用的过程。

Almost 16,000 desalination factories around the world produce huge flows of highly salty waste water and dangerous chemicals, the study said.

该研究指出，全球近1.6万家海水淡化工厂产生大量高盐度污水和危险化学品。

The study comes from the Institute for Water, Environment and Health at U.N. University, or UNU. Vladimir Smakhtin is the director of the institute. He said the study was part of research into how best to secure fresh water for a rising population without harming the environment.

这项研究来自联合国大学水资源、环境与健康研究所。弗拉基米尔·斯马克汀（Vladimir Smakhtin）是该研究所所长。他说，这项研究是研究如何在不损害环境的前提下，为不断增长的人口提供最好的淡水的一部分。

Desalination plants release 142 million cubic meters of salty brine every day, 50 percent more brine than formerly² estimated. Brine is water containing large amounts of salt and often includes chemicals such as chlorine and copper³ used in desalination. The salty brine is mostly released into the sea.

海水淡化工厂每天排放1.42亿立方米的盐水，比此前预估的多50%。“盐水”含有大量盐分，通常包括用于脱盐的氯和铜等化学物质。大部分盐水被排放到海洋里。

Edward Jones is the lead writer of the report. He explains that brine can cut oxygen levels in seawater and cause serious harm to sea animals, including shellfish. This harm leads to observable damage throughout the food chain.

爱德华·琼斯（Edward Jones）是这份报告的首席作者。他解释称，盐水会降低海水中的氧气含量，对包括贝类在内的海洋动物造成严重伤害。而这种伤害会在整个食物链中造成明显的损害。

Alex Drak is an engineer at IDE Technologies in Israel, a leading desalination firm. He said brine that is processed correctly dissolves quickly in the sea.

艾利克斯·德雷克（Alex Drak）是以色列一家领先的海水淡化公司IDE Technologies的工程师。他说，经过正确处理的盐水在海洋里会很快溶解。

“We see a lot of marine⁴ life, different types of fish,” near where the brine is released, said Drak, who was not involved in the UNU study.

德雷克称，“我们可以看到很多海洋生物，不同种类的鱼”，不过他没有参与联合国大学的这项研究。

Desalination is a fast-growing private industry that uses massive amounts of electrical energy. It is also one of the most expensive sources of water. However, many of the world’s dry areas depend on it.

海水淡化是一个快速发展的民营行业，该行业需要消耗大量电能。它也成为水资源最为昂贵的行业之一。然而，世界上许多干旱地区都依赖该行业。

A little more than half the brine comes from factories processing seawater in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, the study reported.

该研究报告称，超过一半的盐水来自沙特阿拉伯、阿拉伯联合酋长国以及卡塔尔的海水淡化工厂。

Words in This Story

plant – n. a building or factory where something is made

cubic – adj. describing a measurement that is produced by multiplying something's length by its width and its height

dissolve – v. to mix with a liquid and become part of the liquid

1 desalination   

n.脱盐(作用)

参考例句：

• Crops can be grown on this land after desalination. 这片土地经过脱盐就可以种植庄稼了。
• One source is by desalination-taking the salt out of salt water to make it drinkable. 淡水的来源之一是使水淡化--把含盐的水中的盐份去掉，使之能够饮用。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 copper   

n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的

参考例句：

• The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
• Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。

4 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。