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  3. Since the early eighties we have been only too aware of the devastating effe

Since the early eighties we have been only too aware of the devastating effe

游客2025-04-23  18
问题     Since the early eighties we have been only too aware of the devastating effects of largescale environmental pollution. Such pollution is generally the result of poor government planning in many developing nations or the short-sighted, selfish policies of the already industrialized countries which encourage a minority of the world’s population to squander the majority of its natural resources.
    While events such as the deforestation of the Amazon jungle or the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl continue to receive high... remembered that not all pollution is on this grand scale. A large proportion of the world’s pollution has its source much close to home.
    Avoiding pollution can be a full-time job. Try not to inhale traffic fumes, keep away from chemical plants and building-sites, wear a mask when cycling. It is enough to make you want to stay at home. But that, according to a growing body of scientific evidence, would also be a bad idea. Research shows that levels of pollutants such as hazardous gases, particulate matter and other chemical "nasties" are usually higher indoors than out, even in the most polluted cities. Since the average American spends 18 hours indoors for every hour outside, it looks as though many environmentalists may be attacking the wrong target.
    The latest study, conducted by two environmental engineers, Richard Corsi and Cynthia Howard-Reed, of the University of Texas in Austin, and published in Environmental Science and Technology, suggests that it is the process of keeping clean that may be making indoor pollution worse. The researchers found that baths, showers, dishwashers and washing machines can all be significant sources of indoor pollution, because they extract trace amounts of chemicals from the water that they use and transfer them to the air.
    Nearly all public water Supplies contain very low concentrations of toxic chemicals, most of them left over from the otherwise beneficial process of chlorination. In fact, in many cases, the degree of exposure to toxic chemicals in tap water by inhalation is comparable to the exposure that would result from drinking the stuff. This is significant because many people are so concerned about water-borne pollutants that they drink only bottled water, worldwide sales of which are forecast to reach $ 72 billion by next year. Dr. Corsi’s results suggest that they are being exposed to such pollutants any way simply by breathing at home.
    The aim of such research is not, however, to encourage the use of gas masks when unloading the washing. Instead, it is to bring a sense of perspective to the debate about pollution. According to Dr. Corsi, disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution, when there is as much or more cause, for concern indoors, right under people’s noses.
    Using gas cookers or burning candles, for example, both result in indoor levels of carbon monoxide and particulate matter that are just as high as those to be found outside, amid heavy traffic. Overcrowded classrooms whose ventilation systems were designed for smaller numbers of children frequently contain levels of carbon dioxide that would be regarded as unaccepted on board a submarine. "New car smell" is the result of high levels of toxic chemicals, not cleanliness. Laser printers, computers, carpets and paints all contribute to the noxious indoor mix.
    The implications of indoor pollution for health are unclear. But before worrying about the problems caused by large-scale industry, it makes sense to consider the small-scale industry, it makes sense to consider the small-scale pollution at home and welcome international debate about this. Scientists investigating indoor pollution will gather next month in Edinburgh at the Indoor Air conference to discuss the problem. Perhaps unwisely, the meeting is being held indoors. [br] As a result of their experiments, Dr. Corsi’s team found that______.
选项 A、dishwashers are very efficient machines
B、tap water is as polluted, as bottled water
C、indoor pollution rivals outdoor pollution
D、gas mask is a useful protective device
答案 C
解析 本题的四个选项中，只有C项为正确答案。这可从文中的“According to Dr．Corsi，disproportionate effort is wasted campaigning against certain forms of outdoor pollution，when there is as much or more cause for concern indoors，right under people’s noses．”推知，即Dr．Corsi认为人们在治理户外污染上浪费了过多的精力，而实际上室内污染也十分严重，需要处理。
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