《环境工程专业英语》马志毅编中文翻译

1. The Environment and Environmental Engineering 环境和环境工程学 Simply said, the environment can be defined as ones surroundings. In terms of the environmental engineers involvement, however, a more specific definition is needed. To the environmental engineer, the word environment may take on global dimensions, may refer to a very localized area in which a specific problem must be addressed, or may, in the case of contained environments, refer to a small volume of liquid, gaseous, or solid materials within a treatment plant reactor. 简单的说，环境可以定义为我们的周围。 但是就环境工程师参与的角度来说， 需要一个 更加明确的定义。 对于环境工程师来说， 环境这个词可能包含全球范围； 也可能专指非常局 部的一个地区，在这个地区中涉及到一些具体要解决的问题；或者也可能在密闭的环境中， 指处理厂反应器内的一小块液体、气体或固体。 The global environment consists of the atmosphere, the hydrosphere and the lithosphere in which the life-sustaining resources of the earth are contained. The atmosphere, a mixture of gases extending outward from the surface of the earth, evolved from elements of the earth that were gasified during its formation and metamorphosis. The hydrosphere consists of the oceans,the lakes and streams and the shallow groundwater bodies that interflow with the surface water.The lithosphere is the soil mantle that wraps the core of the earth. 全球环境由大气圈、水圈和岩石圈所组成， 其中包含了维系地球上生命的资源。 大气圈， 从地球表面向外延伸的一种混合气体， 它从地球的形成和变化过程中气化产生的元素演变而 来。水圈由海洋、湖泊、溪流以及与地表水互通的浅层地下水体所组成。岩石圈是指包围地 核的土质地幔。 The biosphere, a thin shell that encapsulates the earth, is made up of the atmosphere and lithosphere adjacent to the surface of the earth, together with the hydrosphere. It is within the biosphere that the life forms of earth, including humans, live. Life-sustaining materials in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms are cycled through the biosphere, providing sustenance to all living organisms. 生物圈是包裹住地球的薄薄的外壳， 是由大气圈和地表附近的岩石圈， 以及水圈组成的。 地球上的生命形式，包括人类、动物存在于生物圈内。气态、液态和固态形式的生命维持物 在生物圈内循环，向所有生命体提供营养物质。 Life-sustaining resources air, food, and water are withdrawn from the biosphere. It is also into the biosphere that waste products in gaseous, liquid, and solid forms are discharges. From the beginning of time, the biosphere has received and assimilated the wastes generated by plant and animal life. Natural systems have been ever active, dispersing smoke from forest fires, diluting animal wastes washed into streams and rivers, and converting debris, of past generations of plant and animal life into soil rich enough to support future populations. 维持生命的资源 空气、食物和水 是从生物圈内提取的。 废物也是以气态、 液态 和固态形式排放到生物圈中的。 从刚开始的时候起， 生物圈就接受和消化植物和动物产生的 废弃物。自然生态系统已经空前活跃， 将森林大火产生的烟扩散， 稀释冲入小溪和河流中的 动物排泄物以及把过去几代植物和动物的残骸转化成足以供养后续生物的肥沃土壤。 For every natural act of pollution, for every undesirable alteration in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the environment, for every incident that eroded the quality of the immediate, or local environment, there were natural actions that restored that quality. Only in recent years has it becomes apparent that the sustaining and assimilative capacity of the biosphere, though tremendous, is not, after all, infinite. Though the system has operated for millions of years, it has begun to show signs of stress, primarily because of the impact of humans upon the environment. 对于每种自然行为的污染，对于环境在每种物理、化学、生物特性上不可取的变化，对 于每种侵蚀当下或当地环境质量的事件， 有自然行为会恢复那种质量。 只是到了近几年， 生 物圈的维持和消化能力尽管巨大， 但毕竟不是无限的这一事实才变得明显。 尽管系统运行了 几百万年，但它开始发出有压力的信号，主要是由于人类对环境的影响。 Environmental engineering has been defined as the branch of engineering that is concerned with protecting the environment from the potential, deleterious effects of human activity, protecting human population from the effects of adverse environmental factors, and improving environmental quality for human health and well-being. 环境工程被定义为工程学的一个分支， 其主要关注保护环境不受人类活动的潜在有害影 响，保护人类不受不利环境因素的影响以及为人类的健康和幸福而改善环境质量。 As the above definition implies, humans interact with their environment sometimes adversely impacting the environment and sometimes being adversely impacted by pollutants in the environment. An understanding of the nature of the environment and of human interaction with it is a necessary prerequisite to understanding the work of the environmental engineer. 上述定义表明，人类与环境相互影响 有时对环境造成不利影响， 有时受到环境污染 物的不利影响。了解环境的本质以及人类与环境的相互作用， 是了解环境工程师工作的一个 必要的先决条件。 2. Ecology 生态学 The recognition that all life forms are inextricably dependent on one another and on the physical environment is a fairly recent phenomenon. The word ecology was not even invented until the mid-1800s, and the study of ecology as a branch of natural sciences was not widespread until a few decades ago. 所有生命形式不可避免的相互依赖且依赖自然环境是一个最近认识到的现象。 生态学 这个单词直到 19世纪中叶才发明，而直到几十年前生态学才作为一门自然学科流传开来。 The science of ecology defines ecosystems as groups of organisms which interact with each other and the physical environment, and which affect the population of the various species in the environment. For example, the simplest type of ecosystem consists of two animals such as the hare and the lynx. If the hare population in a specific locality is high, the lynx have an abundant food supply, procreate, and increase in population until they outstrip the availability of hares. As the lynx population decreases due to the unavailability of food, the hares increase since the number of predators is fewer, and the cycle repeats. Such a system is dynamic in that the numbers of each population are continuously changing, but over a long time span is at a steady state For every natural act of pollution, for every undesirable alteration in the physical, chemical or biological characteristics of the environment, for every incident that eroded the quality of the immediate, or local environment, there were natural actions that restored that quality. Only in recent years has it becomes apparent that the sustaining and assimilative capacity of the biosphere, though tremendous, is not, after all, infinite. Though the system has operated for millions of years, it has begun to show signs of stress, primarily because of the impact of humans upon the environment. 对于每种自然行为的污染，对于环境在每种物理、化学、生物特性上不可取的变化，对 于每种侵蚀当下或当地环境质量的事件， 有自然行为会恢复那种质量。 只是到了近几年， 生 物圈的维持和消化能力尽管巨大， 但毕竟不是无限的这一事实才变得明显。 尽管系统运行了 几百万年，但它开始发出有压力的信号，主要是由于人类对环境的影响。 Environmental engineering has been defined as the branch of engineering that is concerned with protecting the environment from the potential, deleterious effects of human activity, protecting human population from the effects of adverse environmental factors, and improving environmental quality for human health and well-being. 环境工程被定义为工程学的一个分支， 其主要关注保护环境不受人类活动的潜在有害影 响，保护人类不受不利环境因素的影响以及为人类的健康和幸福而改善环境质量。 As the above definition implies, humans interact with their environment sometimes adversely impacting the environment and sometimes being adversely impacted by pollutants in the environment. An understanding of the nature of the environment and of human interaction with it is a necessary prerequisite to understanding the work of the environmental engineer. 上述定义表明，人类与环境相互影响 有时对环境造成不利影响， 有时受到环境污染 物的不利影响。了解环境的本质以及人类与环境的相互作用， 是了解环境工程师工作的一个 必要的先决条件。 2. Ecology 生态学 The recognition that all life forms are inextricably dependent on one another and on the physical environment is a fairly recent phenomenon. The word ecology was not even invented until the mid-1800s, and the study of ecology as a branch of natural sciences was not widespread until a few decades ago. 所有生命形式不可避免的相互依赖且依赖自然环境是一个最近认识到的现象。 生态学 这个单词直到 19世纪中叶才发明，而直到几十年前生态学才作为一门自然学科流传开来。 The science of ecology defines ecosystems as groups of organisms which interact with each other and the physical environment, and which affect the population of the various species in the environment. For example, the simplest type of ecosystem consists of two animals such as the hare and the lynx. If the hare population in a specific locality is high, the lynx have an abundant food supply, procreate, and increase in population until they outstrip the availability of hares. As the lynx population decreases due to the unavailability of food, the hares increase since the number of predators is fewer, and the cycle repeats. Such a system is dynamic in that the numbers of each population are continuously changing, but over a long time span is at a steady state 成不利影响。例如，最脆弱的生态系统之一深海， 但一些工程师极力主张用海洋来处理有害 的废物。把生态原理列入工程决策中是环境工程专业的一个重要组成部分。 3. Environmental Problems 环境问题 1 Our Fragile World Anyone who has had an opportunity to observe even a small fraction of the natural wonders of our planet would agree that we live in a marvelous world. The majesty of the Rocky Mountains, the beauty of the Maine coast on a clear summer day , and the colors of a desert sunset are all impressive sights. On a more mundane level, we are reminded of the Earth s bounties by the smell and feel of freshly plowed Iowa farmland, by a breath of fresh air on a brisk fall day , or the taste of fresh, clean water on a hot summer day. 1.我们脆弱的世界 任何一个人只要有机会去见证我们的行星，哪怕只是自然奇观的一个小片段，他都会 认同我们正住在一个不可思议的世界。 雄伟的落基山脉， 清爽夏日里缅因州海岸的美丽， 还 有沙漠里日落的色彩都是能给人留下深刻印象的景观。在一个更为世俗的层次， 我们会想起 地球的恩赐 感受爱荷华州新耕土地的泥土清香， 呼吸秋季凉爽的新鲜空气， 在炎炎夏日 品尝甘甜、洁净的饮水。 It goes without saying that all of these things are threatened by a broad range of human activities. In an effort to increase short-term agricultural production, farmland in many areas is cultivated improperly, resulting in extreme erosion that threatens its very existence. Many urban dwellers would agree that a breath of fresh air is a rare commodity in the city. In many industrialized areas, ground water sources of drinking water are being threatened by the insidious movement of hazardous waste chemical leachates through ground water aquifers. The protection of our environment must be given the highest priority because on it depends the preservation of human kind, itself. 不用说，所有这些事物被大范围的人类活动所威胁着。努力去谋求农产品的短期增长， 农田在许多地区的不合理耕耘， 导致了威胁其生存的极端侵蚀。 很多城市居民都认为新鲜的 空气在城市里是稀有品。 在许多工业地区， 有害废物的化学沥滤液通过地下水潜移扩散，威 胁着地下水饮用水源。必须给予环境最优先的保护，因为人类自身的保护依赖于此。 In order to combat threats to our environment, it is necessary to understand the nature and magnitude of the problems involved. Before discussing these problems further, it is essential to recognize the fact that science and technology must play key roles in solving environmental problems. Only through the proper application of science and technology, under the direction of people with a strong environmental consciousness and a basic knowledge of the environmental sciences, can humankind survive on the limited resources of this planet. 为了应对那些对我们环境的威胁，我们有必要了解性质和所涉及的问题的大小。在进 一步讨论这些问题之前， 必须承认科学技术在解决环境问题时起着关键作用这一事实。只有 通过科学技术的正确应用， 在具有强烈环保意识和环境科学基本知识的人的指导下，人类才 能在这个资源有限的星球上生存。 2. Classifying Environmental Problems Environmental problems are always interrelated. Sometimes a solution to one problem actually creates another problem. For example, when people are sick and dying from disease, it is natural to want to improve human health. When health is improved and infant mortality is reduced, a population explosion may result. To feed this growing population, natural habitats are often destroyed by turning them into farmland. As natural habitats are destroyed, the wild plants, predatory animals, and parasites that once lived there are killed as well. Because of the lack of predators and parasites, outbreaks of insect pests become more common. Farmers use pesticides to control the pests and protect the crops, but in the process the environment becomes polluted. The development of this entire cycle in itself consumes fossil fuel supplies that are becoming scare. In addition, when fuels are burned, air pollutants are generated. 2.环境问题的分类 环境问题总是互相关联的。 有时一个问题的解决实际上引起了另外一个问题的产生。例 如，当人们因为生病或因病死亡时， 自然想到要改善人们健康状况。 当人类健康得以改善及 婴儿的死亡率下降时， 又可能会导致人口数量爆炸。 为了养活这些不断增长的人口， 自然栖 息地常常被破坏变成耕地。 当自然栖息地被破坏， 曾经生长在那里的野生植物、掠夺性动物 和寄生虫也被杀死。 由于缺乏捕食者和寄生虫， 病虫害的暴发变得越来越普遍。农民使用农 药去抑制虫害保护庄稼， 但在这一过程中污染了环境。经历这一完整循环，本身要消耗日渐 不足的化石燃料供应。此外，燃料被燃烧的同时，空气污染产生了。 4. The Impact of Humans upon the Environment 人类对环境的影响 In a natural state, earth s life forms live in equilibrium with their environment. The numbers and activities of each species are governed by the resources available to them. Species interaction is common, with the waste product of one species often forming the food supply of another. Humans alone have the ability to gather resources from beyond their immediate surroundings and process those resources into different, more versatile forms. These abilities have made it possible for human population to thrive and flourish beyond natural constraints. But the natural and manufactured wastes generated and released into the biosphere by these increased numbers of human beings have upset the natural equilibrium. 在一种自然状态下，地球上的生命体与所处的环境保持平衡.每个物种的数量和活动受 控于他们所能得到的资源。 物种间普遍存在相互作用， 往往一个物种的废弃物能成为另一个 的食物供应。唯独人类拥有从他们周围的环境之外收集资源的能力，并把那些资源加工成不 同的、更加多功能的东西。这些能力使人类人口的兴旺和蓬勃发展有可能超出自然的限制。 但是，由于增加的人口所产生和释放到生物圈的天然和人造的废物破坏了自然平衡。 Anthropogenic, or human-induced, pollutants have overloaded the system. The overloading came relatively late in the course of human interaction with the environment ,perhaps because early societies were primarily concerned with meeting natural needs, needs humans share in common with most of the higher mammals. These peoples had not yet begun to be concerned with meeting the acquired needs associated with more advanced civilizations. 人类产生的、人为引起的污染使系统超载。 超载在人类与环境相互作用的过程中来的相 对较晚，或许因为早期社会主要关注满足自然需求，人类和大部分较高等的哺乳动物共同分 享的那些必需品。这些民族还没想到要把更先进的文明与所需求的联系起来。 Satisfying Natural Needs 满足自然需求 Early humans used natural resources to satisfy their needs for air, water, food, and shelter. These natural, unprocessed resources were readily available in the biosphere, and the residues generated by the use of such resources were generally compatible with, or readily assimilated by the environment. Primitive humans ate plant and animal foods without even disturbing the atmosphere with the smoke from a campfire. Even when use of fire became common, the relatively small amounts of smoke generated were easily and rapidly dispersed and assimilated by the atmosphere. 早期人类使用自然资源来满足他们对空气，水，食物和庇护所的需求。这些天然的、未 经加工的资源在生物圈很容易用到， 并且利用这些资源所产生的残留物一般兼容，或容易被 环境同化。原始人吃植物和动物性食物时甚至没有用篝火产生的烟雾污染大气。甚至当用火 普及时，相当少量的烟的产生能简单迅速分散并被大气同化。 Early civilizations often drank from the same rivers in which they bathed and deposited their wastes, yet the impact of such use was relatively slight, as natural cleansing mechanisms easily restored water quality. These early humans used caves and other natural shelters of else fashioned their homes from wood, dirt, or animal skins. Oftennomadic, early populations left behind few items that were not readily broken down and absorbed by the atmosphere, hydrosphere, or lithosphere .And those items that were not broken down with time were so few in number and so innocuous as to present no significant solid waste problems. 早期文明经常在他们沐浴并存入其废物的水中汲水喝，但这样使用的影响相对轻微， 因 为自然的净化机制很容易恢复水质。 这些早期人类利用洞穴和其他的天然庇护物， 通过木材、 泥土、或兽皮塑造自己的家园。早起的游牧民族往往遗留下了几件不容易分解或被大气圈、 水圈或岩石圈所吸收的东西。那些没有随着时间推移而分解的东西数量很少且无害而没有呈 现出显著的固废问题。 Only as early peoples began to gather together in larger, more or less stable groupings did their impact upon their local environments begin to be significant. In 61 A.D., cookings and heating fires caused air pollution problems so severe that the Roman philosopher Seneca complained of the stink of the smoky chimneys . By the late eighteenth century, the waters of the Rhine and the Thames had become too polluted to support game fish. From the Middle Ages the areas where food and human waste were dumped harbored rats, flies, and other pests. 只有当早起的民族开始大量聚集起来时， 或多或少的稳定集团对他们当地环境的影响开 始变得显著。公元 61 年，由于食物和取暖用火造成的空气污染问题非常严重，罗马哲学家 塞内卡抱怨“排黑烟的烟囱臭”。 十八世纪后期， 莱茵河和泰晤士河的水已被严重污染而不 能戏鱼了。从中世纪开始，食品和人类废物被倾倒的地方滋生老鼠、苍蝇和其他害虫。 Satisfying Acquired Needs 满足收购需求 But these early evidences of pollution overload were merely the prelude to greater overloads to come. With the dawn of the industrial revolution, humans were better able than ever to satisfy their age-old needs of air, water, food, and shelter. Increasingly they turned their attention to other needs beyond those associated with survival. By the late nineteenth centuries, automobiles, appliances, and processed foods and beverages had become so popular as to seem necessities, and meeting these acquired needs had become a major thrust of modern industrial society. 但这些早期污染超负荷的证据仅仅是更严重的超负荷来临的前奏。伴随着工业革命的曙 光，人类比以往任何时候都能够更好地满足他们古老的对空气，水，食品和住房的需求。他 们把注意力越来越多地转向了那些超出生存范畴的需求。十九世纪后期，汽车、家电、加工 食品和饮料已变得如生活必需品般受欢迎， 并且满足这些购买的需求已成为现代工业社会的 主要推动力。 Unlike the natural needs discussed earlier, acquired needs are usually met by items that must be processed or manufactured or refined, and the production, distribution, and use of such items usually results in more complex residuals, many of which are not compatible with or readily assimilated by the environment. 与前面所讨论的自然需求不同，收购需求通常由必须处理或制造或改进的物品来满足， 生产、分配和使用这类物品通常产生更复杂的剩余物，其中有许多是不兼容或环境不能轻易 同化的。 Take, for example, a familiar modern appliance the toaster. The shell and the heating elements are likely to be made of steel, the handle of the lift lever of plastic. Copper wires and synthetic insulation may be used in the connecting cord, and rubber may be used on the plug. In assessing the pollutants generated by the manufacture and sale of this simple appliance, it would be necessary to include all the resources expended in the mining of the metals, the extracting and refining of the petroleum, the shipping of the various materials, then the manufacturing, shipping, and selling of the finished product. The potential impact of all of these activities upon air and water quality is significant. Furthermore, if the pollution potential involving the manufacture and use of the heavy equipment needed for the extraction and processing of the raw materials used in the various toaster components is considered, the list could go on ad nauseam. And the solid-waste disposal probl