2016年CRI Smog Free Tower not cure for Beijing's air woes

 

Heavy smog shrouded¹ Beijing on Wednesday October 19, and a yellow alert, the third-highest warning level, was issued by the environmental authorities on Tuesday, the Legal Daily reported.

The yellow alert means the Air Quality Index will exceed 200 for at least 48 hours. The problem had made a quick return, after the last round of smog cleared up on October 16.

The weather in Beijing is expected to improve from Thursday morning thanks to the arrival of a cold front.

Smog Free Tower, designed by a Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde,ispresented at Beijing 751D.Park. [Photo: Chinanews]

As many choose to use air purifiers indoors, a Dutch artist, Daan Roosegaarde is offering an eccentric solution which may bring people, especially children, a chance to breathe clean air outdoors.

He brought his newly designed Smog Free Tower which is said to be inspired by Chinese temples, to Beijing in early October. The 7-meter-high tower tested in Beijing contains an air-purifying machine that catches PM 2.5 particles, the main component² of smog.

The machine takes in the particles, turns them into black powder and expels cleaner air. Roosegaarde said the tower "exhales³" air that is 75 percent cleaner.

In spite of the Tower's presence in the city, Liu Guozheng, the general secretary of the China Forum⁴ of Environmental Journalists(CFEJ) said the Tower only addresses the symptoms of air pollution, not the cause.

Liu added that the key to curbing⁵ smog in Beijing is to reduce emissions⁶, adjust industrial structures and adopt coal controls.

A view ofthe Central Business District at Jianguomenwai Avenue on Wednesday, Oct.19.[Photo: Chinanews]

1 shrouded   

v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密

参考例句：

• The hills were shrouded in mist . 这些小山被笼罩在薄雾之中。
• The towers were shrouded in mist. 城楼被蒙上薄雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

3 exhales   

v.呼出，发散出( exhale的第三人称单数 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气

参考例句：

• He shivers, exhales, gets the ball and races back to his friends. 他浑身一颤，舒了口气，捡起球，跑回到他的朋友们那里。 来自互联网
• A smoker exhales in a pub in Richmond, London. 一名吸菸者在伦敦瑞旗蒙一家酒吧吞云吐雾。 来自互联网

4 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

5 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

6 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。