韓國加入全球污染最嚴(yán)重國家行列

South Korea has joined the ranks of the world’s most polluted countries, with air pollution in the first months of this year soaring to record levels.

韓國已加入全球污染最嚴(yán)重國家行列，今年頭幾個月的空氣污染飆升至創(chuàng)紀(jì)錄水平。

Long associated with Asian capitals such as Beijing or Delhi, hazardous smog has for weeks blanketed Seoul — a city now appearing among the world’s three most polluted in daily rankings.

有害煙霧最近已連續(xù)數(shù)周覆蓋在首爾上空，這座城市現(xiàn)在在每日排名中名列全球三大污染最嚴(yán)重城市。長期以來，有毒煙霧都與北京或德里等亞洲國家首都有關(guān)。

And there is growing concern that much of the root cause of the toxic air, estimated to cost the country up to $9bn each year, lies at home and not in China as the government has claimed.

而且有越來越多的擔(dān)心認(rèn)為有毒空氣的根源是在韓國國內(nèi)，而不像韓國政府所稱的在中國。據(jù)估計有毒空氣每年要耗費韓國政府高達(dá)90億美元。

Already this year authorities in South Korea have issued 85 ultrafine dust warnings, up more than 100 per cent from the 41 advisories in the same period last year.

韓國當(dāng)局今年已經(jīng)發(fā)布了85次超細(xì)粉塵警告，比去年同期41次公告高出了100%以上。

Classified as a first-degree carcinogen by the World Health Organization, the invisible nanoparticles known as PM2.5 penetrate deep into the respiratory system and can trigger a variety of illnesses, including cancer.

這種肉眼不可見的納米顆粒被稱為PM2.5，被世界衛(wèi)生組織(World Health Organization)列為一級致癌物，能夠滲入呼吸系統(tǒng)深部，引發(fā)包括癌癥在內(nèi)的多種疾病。

An OECD report found that up to 9m South Koreans could die prematurely by 2060 as a result of current levels of air pollution — the worst projection among members of the group of mainly rich countries.

經(jīng)合組織(OECD)的一份報告指出，由于目前的空氣污染水平，到2060年前可能最高會造成900萬韓國人過早死亡，這是在這群富裕國家成員中最糟糕的預(yù)測。

Many in South Korea blame pollutants wafting in from China — but experts say much of the pollution is homegrown.

許多韓國人指責(zé)這些污染物是從中國飄來的，但專家表示大部分污染是“國產(chǎn)貨”。

“The government is sitting idly by while passing the buck to China,” said Kim Shin-do, a professor of environmental engineering at the University of Seoul.

首爾市立大學(xué)(University of Seoul)環(huán)境工程教授Kim Shin-do表示：“政府一邊將責(zé)任推諉給中國，一邊坐視不管。”

“Only after we handle our own air pollution problems can we grasp the extent of air pollution or fine dust [coming from] the deserts in China and Mongolia.”

“我們只有先處理好自己的空氣污染問題，才能掌握空氣污染或(來自)中國和蒙古沙漠的細(xì)粉塵的程度。”

The South Korean environment ministry attributes up to 80 per cent of the fine dust to overseas sources during periods of pronounced pollution.

在污染明顯時期，韓國環(huán)境部將高達(dá)80%的細(xì)粉塵歸咎于海外來源。

But Prof Kim believes China is to blame for only 20 per cent of South Korea’s fine dust. Environmental group Greenpeace puts the figure at 30 per cent.

但Kim Shin-do認(rèn)為中國僅對韓國細(xì)粉塵的20%負(fù)責(zé)，環(huán)保組織綠色和平(Greenpeace)認(rèn)為這一數(shù)字為30%。

Pollution-tracking website AirVisual this week found three South Korean cities and no Chinese cities among the world’s 10 most polluted.

追蹤污染的網(wǎng)站AirVisual本周發(fā)現(xiàn)三座韓國城市躋身全球十大污染城市，而中國城市沒有入選。

Much of the country’s pollutants come from vehicle emissions and construction or industrial sites. Power plants also play a crucial role — and energy officials are pushing to develop even more coal-powered capacity.

韓國大部分污染物來自車輛排放和建筑工地或工業(yè)場所，電廠也起到了關(guān)鍵作用，而韓國的能源官員還在推動發(fā)展更多燃煤電廠。

The government operates 53 coal-powered plants and intends to construct 20 more in the next five years. Ten ageing plants will be shut by 2025.

韓國政府現(xiàn)運營53座燃煤電廠，且計劃在未來5年再增加20座。到2025年前將關(guān)閉10座老化的電廠。

Between 2005 and last year, the capacity of the country’s coal-fired power plants increased almost 95 per cent. Burning of the fossil fuel — a source of carbon dioxide emissions and smog — accounts for about 40 per cent of the country’s energy generation.

2005年至去年，韓國燃煤電廠產(chǎn)能增長近95%。燃煤發(fā)電約占韓國發(fā)電量40%，這種礦物燃料的燃燒是二氧化碳排放和煙霧的來源之一。

Meanwhile, nuclear power’s share has slipped to 30 per cent of power generated from 40 per cent in 2005 amid safety concerns and following a series of scandals.

同時，由于安全問題和一系列丑聞，核電在發(fā)電量中的比例從2005年的40%下降到30%。

“Most of the pollutants come from our living environment but the government has been blaming cars, China and even cooking mackerel fish for years,” said Kim Dong-sul, a professor at Kyung Hee University.

慶熙大學(xué)(Kyung Hee University)教授Kim Dong-sul表示：“大多數(shù)污染物來自我們的生活環(huán)境，但政府多年來一直怪罪到汽車、中國，甚至烹飪鯖魚頭上。”