LESSON 9

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Words and Expressions

power station — электростанция

carbon dioxide [dai'oksaid] — углекислый газ

carbon emission— выделение углерода (углекислого

газа)

facility— оборудование, приспособление, тех-

ническое средство/сооружение

to boost performance — улучшить/повысить характеристи-

ки/производительность/коэффици­ент полезного действия

to eliminate — устранять, уничтожать, очищать

greenhouse gas — тепличный газ

the impact of activity— удар/воздействие/влияние деятель-

НОСТИ

environmental pollution — загрязнение окружающей среды

depletion of non-renewable natural истощение невосполняемых при-;

resources— родных ресурсов

the rational utilization— рациональное/разумное использова-

ние

the conservation of nature— сохранение природы

the interaction of man and nature— взаимодействие человека и при­роды

to affect fishing — оказывать (вредное) воздействие на

рыболовство

the Chernobyl disaster — чернобыльская катастрофа

to solve by efforts of all countries — решать усилиями всех стран

one of the pressing problems — одна из насущных/острых проблем

to be closely linked to the problems of быть непосредственно связанным с

economic growth — проблемами экономического роста

food supply — продовольственное снабжение

an increasing influence on nature — растущее вляние на природу

the application of new technological применение новых технологических

processes — процессов

to cause catastrophic results — вызывать катастрофические послед-

ствия

the accumulation of CO₂ in the at- накопление СО₂ в атмосфере

mosphere —

greenhouse — теплица, парник

to raise the level of water in the повышать уровень воды в океанах

oceans —

to cause genetic defects — вызывать генетические дефекты/ на-

рушения

a modern economy — современная экономика

the concentration of chemicals— рост химического производства,

концентрация химической про­мышленности

on the one hand — с одной стороны

to be associated with — ассоциироваться с...

modern agriculture needs fertilizers, современному сельскому хозяйству

insecticides, pesticides ['pestisaid] — нужны удобрения, средства от на­секомых (инсектициды),

химиче­ские средства для борьбы с вреди­телями (пестициды)

chemicals help solve the problem of химические вещества/препараты

feeding the population on the Globe— помогают решить проблему пита­ния населения на Земле

to destroy the flora and fauna — уничтожать флору и фауну

they yield new types of waste prod- они порождают новые виды про-

ucts — дуктов загрязнения

to pollute [ps'lu:t] air, water and soil — загрязнять воздух, воду и землю

ferrous metals — черные металлы

long durability and resitance to high продолжительный срок службы и

temperature — стойкость к высоким температурам

structural materials — строительные материалы

non-degradable — неразрушаемый, неразлагающийся,

стойкий

to remain undercomposed indefi- оставаться долгое время не разру-

nitely — шаясь

domestic wastes — бытовые отходы

to melt — плавиться

to release a smoke which poisons the выделять дым, который отравляет

air — воздух

some species of plants and animals — некоторые виды растений и живот­ных

chemistry should work out environ- химия должна работать на окружа-

mentally — ющую среду

safe chemical products — экономичные химические продукты

low-waste or waste-free technology — низкоотходная и безотходная тех­нология

water-saving method — водосберегающие методы/техноло-

гии

new recycling processes — новые повторноциклические про-

цессы

to create new ways for waste utiliza- создавать новые методы утилиза-

tion — ции отходов

some waste can be treated by mi- некоторые отходы могут обрабаты-

crobes ['maikroubz] — ваться микробами

a new trend in technology — новое направление в технологии

to convert polychlorvinil film into превращать полихлорвиниловую

carbon — пленку в углерод

to be exposed to UV radiation — подвергаться ультрафиолетовому об-

лучению

the plastic disintegrates — пластмасса разлагается

the cleaning systems are complex and очищающие системы сложные и

costly — дорогие

solution of waste disposal problems— решение проблем уничтожения от­ходов

t. Переведите на слух:

the interaction of man and nature; to affect fishing; one of the pressing problems; food supply; an increasing influence on nature; the application of new technological processes; to cause genetic defects; the concentration of chemicals; modem agriculture needs fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides; to destroy the flora and fauna; to pollute air, water and soil; domestic wastes; some species of plants and animals; a trend in technology; the cleaning systems are com­plex and costly; solution of waste disposal problems; uncontrolled impact.

newII. Переведите устно на русский язык (зрительно-устный перевод):

1. Cleaner power stations are vital to meet the world's growing need for en­ergy and help reduce the effects of carbon dioxide.

2. The Beyond Petroleum (BP) is planning to convert a power station in Scotland to run on hydrogen that will produce enough electricity for 250,000 homes with 90 % lower carbon emissions.

3. We were the first major energy company to acknowledge the need to take steps against global warming.

4. Our researchers are developing strategies to reduce global CC>2 emissions that will be safe, practical and affordable.

5. At our facility in Alabama, we are using recycled steam to generate power.

6. This has boosted performance while eliminating over 50,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

7. At our facility in Indiana, we invested over $7 million in efficiency pro­jects that reduced emissions by 200,000 tons.

III. Рекомендуется для зрительно-письменного и зрительно-устного пере­вода:

Chemistry and Environment Pollution

Man should carefully study the impact of his activity on the surroun­ding nature. The ecological problem is not simply the environmental polluti­on problem, but the problem of turning man's uncontrolled impact on nature into a purposeful and planned interaction with the latter.

Some scientists say that human civilization will perish as a result of envi­ronmental pollution and depletion of non-renewable natural resources.

The rational utilization of resources and the conservation of nature are a matter of state policy in many countries. All the problems concerning the interaction of man and nature are now of international importance.

The pollution of the Ocean by one particular country affects fishing in the other countries. The Chernobyl disaster was felt in Belorussia, Tula region and even in Scandinavia. So many ecological problems are global problems and can be solved by efforts of all countries.

The ecological problem is one of the pressing problems of our days. It is closely linked to the problems of economic growth, progress in science and

technology, natural resources, energy and food supply. An increasing influen­ce on nature and the application of new technological processes may cause catastrophic results.

The accumulation of CO₂ in the atmosphere, as well as of aerosols, has increased globally by 20 %. The formation of CO2 layer around the Earth may transform our blue planet into enormous greenhouse and may cause an increase in temperature and raise the level of water in the oceans. The pollution of the environment through chemical, physical and biological agents, together with the increases in ionizing radiation produce mutagenic influence and cause ge­netic defects.

A modern economy is impossible without the concentration of chemi­cals. We may say that life without chemistry is impossible at present.

On the one hand, chemical industry is making life easier, more comfor­table, on the other, it is associated by many people with the environmental pollu­tion. For instance, modern agriculture needs fertilizers, insecticides, pestici­des. These chemicals help solve the problem of feedmg the population on the Globe. But at the same time these chemicals may destroy the flora and fauna. They yield new types of waste products that pollute air, water and soil.

One kilogram of polymer constructional material can replace 4 to 5 kg of ferrous metals, the production of one ton of plastic parts requires 2 to 3 times less energy than for the production of metal parts. Such features of polymers as then- long durability and resistance to high temperature are needed for the structural materials. But the same qualities may make plastics the cause of environmental pollution. Plastics contribute to our waste disposal problem, be­cause they are non-degradable and remain undecomposed indefinitely. Of all domestic wastes the greatest trouble is given by plastics. They cannot be burned, they only melt and release a smoke which poisons the air. Higher concentrations of heavy metals in the soil pollute it, result in disappearing some species of plants and animals. So chemistry should work out environmen­tally safe chemical products, low-waste or waste-free technology, water-saving methods new recycling processes, and create new ways for waste utilization. Some waste can be treated by microbes, because some microbes may be considered as a chemical plant. This is a new trend in technology.

Not long ago scientists have grown microbes which convert polychlor-vinyHUm into carbon, that is, destroy the plastic. Some plastics may be expo­sed to UV radiation. The polymer chains that form plastics do not normally break apart when exposed to UV light. If light-sensitive linking molecules are inserted, the polymer chains unzip in sunlight and the plastic disintegrates.

The most promising way to solve the problem of clean air is to improve technology, because the cleaning systems are complex and costly.

In conclusion, it may be summarized that environmental protection is a solution of waste disposal problems and educational activity among people.