（提示：在閱讀本文前，請先閱讀《世界上最髒的城市》。）
從去年8月底開始，《紐約時報》對中國的環境汙染做了一組系列報導，題目為《死於經濟增長》（Choking on Growth）。
這組報導一共十篇，我已經轉載過兩篇，分別是《中國的汙染已經到了極限》和《中國成為世界煙囪》。
去年12月28日，《紐約時報》刊登了系列報導的最後一篇，《北京的奧運藍天任務》（Beijing's Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue），報導了北京可怕的空氣質量。
兩個星期過去了，我發現中文網站上，似乎沒有人提到這件事。這麼好的文章，要是沒人知道，就太可惜了，何況我們每個人都深受空氣汙染之害，不能再忽視這個問題了。
所以，我將它全文翻譯了出來，讓更多的人看到。
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圖片一
2007年12月25日，由於空氣質量惡劣，北京市政府發出警報，要求居民待在室內。但是人們已經習慣了呼吸髒空氣，圖為一個男子當天在天安門廣場放風箏。
圖片二
北京市的無數建築工地是空氣汙染主要來源之一。圖為2008年奧運會的主場館----俗稱"鳥巢"的國家體育場。
圖片三
北京每天新增1200多輛小汽車和卡車。圖為去年12月的一天早上，北京西區上班高峰時間的景象。
圖片四
據一位北京的呼吸科醫生說，他現在每天治療50個呼吸疾病患者，是十年前的一倍。哮喘患者和不吸菸的肺癌患者，都比以前大量增加。
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Beijing's Olympic Quest: Turn Smoggy Sky Blue
北京的奧運藍天任務
原載2007年12月29日《紐約時報》
作者：JIM YARDLEY
譯者：阮一峰
BEIJING -- Every day, monitoring stations across the city measure air pollution to determine if the skies above this national capital can officially be designated blue. It is not an act of whimsy: with Beijing preparing to play host to the 2008 Olympic Games, the official Blue Sky ratings are the city's own measuring stick for how well it is cleaning up its polluted air.
北京 ---- 每天，全市各處的監測點都會測量空氣汙染，然後決定首都上方的天空是否符合官方定義的"藍天"。這並非奇特的舉動，自從北京開始準備主辦2008年奧運會，政府就決定用藍天的天數，作為衡量空氣汙染的一個指標。
Thursday did not bring good news. The gray, acrid skies rated an eye-reddening 421 on a scale of 500, with 500 being the worst. Friday rated 500. Both days far exceeded pollution levels deemed safe by the World Health Organization. In Beijing, officials warned residents to stay indoors until Saturday, but residents here are accustomed to breathing foul air. One man flew a kite in Tiananmen Square.
星期四的情況不太好。天空是灰色的，空氣中佈滿塵埃，足以引發結膜炎，空氣汙染數值達到421。這個數值的最大值是500，代表最差的狀況。星期五的測量結果就是500。這兩天的空氣狀況，遠遠超過了世界衛生組織定義的安全空氣水平。政府釋出了警報，要求市民在星期六之前，都待在室內。但是，本地居民都已經習慣了呼吸髒空氣。當天在天安門廣場上，還有人放風箏。
For Beijing officials, Thursday was especially depressing because the city was hoping to celebrate an environmental victory. In recent years, Beijing has steadily increased its Blue Sky days. The city needs one more, defined as scoring below 101, to reach its goal of 245 Blue Sky days this year. These improving ratings are how Beijing hopes to reassure the world that Olympic athletes will not be gasping for breath next August.
對北京市的官員來說，星期四特別讓人沮喪，因為本來這一天可以慶祝城市環境的改善。近幾年，北京市藍天天數一直在穩定增長。這個城市只需要再增加一天，空氣汙染指數低於101，就可以達到今年245個藍天的指標。北京希望用不斷增加的藍天天數，向世界保證，明年8月的奧運會上，運動員不會感到有呼吸問題。
"We're definitely hoping for the best," said Jon Kolb, a member of the Canadian Olympic Committee, "but preparing for the worst."
"我們當然希望出現最好的結果，"加拿大奧委會委員Jon Kolb說，"但是對最壞的結果也有思想準備。"
For the world's Olympians, Beijing's air is a performance issue. The concern is that respiratory problems could impede athletic performance and prevent records from being broken. For the city's estimated 12 million residents, pollution is an inescapable health and quality-of-life issue. Skepticism about the validity of the Blue Sky ratings is common. Moreover, the concern is whether the city can clean itself up long after the Games are over.
對於參加奧運會的運動員來說，北京的空氣會影響成績。呼吸不順暢，使得成績下降，無法破記錄。但是，對於這個城市大約1200萬的居民來說，汙染是一個無所不在的問題，直接影響健康和生活質量。人們普遍懷疑，官方宣佈的藍天增加不可靠。而且，人們更關心的是，當奧運會結束以後，這個城市是否還會繼續變乾淨。
Beijing has long ranked as one of the world's most polluted cities. To win the Games, Beijing promised a "Green Olympics" and undertook environmental initiatives now considered models for the rest of the country. But greening Beijing has not meant slowing it down. Officials also have encouraged an astonishing urbanization boom that has made environmental gains seem modest, if not illusory.
長久以來，北京一直被列為世界上汙染最重的城市之一。為了贏得奧運會主辦權，北京承諾舉辦一次"綠色奧運"，保證採取大量堪稱世界楷模的環保措施。但是，治理汙染不等於放慢經濟發展。政府一直在鼓勵城市經濟以令人震驚的速度擴張。這使得環境的改善顯得微乎其微，甚至堪稱幻覺。
Beijing is like an athlete trying to get into shape by walking on a treadmill yet eating double cheeseburgers at the same time. Polluting factories have been moved or closed. But auto emissions are rising as the city adds up to 1,200 new cars and trucks every day. Dirty, coal-burning furnaces have been replaced, lowering the city's sulfur dioxide emissions. But fine-particle pollution has been exacerbated by a staggering citywide construction binge that shows no signs of letting up.
北京就像一個運動員，一邊在跑步機上跑步，保持形體，一邊卻大口吃著雙份漢堡。高汙染工廠已經被遷移或者關閉。但是，汽車尾氣卻在上升，因為這個城市每天新增1200輛小轎車和卡車。燃煤的高爐已經被搬走，二氧化硫排放下降了。但是，空氣中的微粒汙染卻更嚴重了，因為全市各處都是正在施工的建築工地，沒有絲毫放慢施工的跡象。
China's unsolved riddle is how to reconcile fast economic growth with environmental protection. But Beijing's Olympic deadline means the city needs an immediate answer. The ruling Communist Party envisions the Games as a public relations showcase and is leaving no detail untended. Scientists are cross-breeding chrysanthemums to ensure that flowers bloom in August.
中國始終沒有解決的一個問題，就是如何將快速的經濟增長與環境保護協調起來。但是，北京奧運會的日益臨近，意味著北京需要一個立竿見影的方法。共產黨將這次奧運會視為一個展示形象的視窗，所有細節都考慮到了。科學家正在培育雜交菊花，保證會在8月開花。
Now Beijing is also going to try to manipulate air quality. For months, scientists have treated the city like a laboratory, testing wind patterns and atmospheric structure, while pinpointing local and regional pollution sources. Olympics contingency plans have been approved for Beijing and surrounding provinces. Details are not public, but officials have discussed shutting down factories and restricting traffic during the Games.
現在，北京正在嘗試對空氣質量加以控制。一連好幾個月，科學家將整個城市當作實驗室，測試風的形態和大氣結構，查明市內和市外的各種汙染源。北京市和周邊省份都批准了奧運會緊急狀況的應對方案。具體細節不得而知，但是官員們考慮在奧運會期間，關閉工廠和限制交通。
"We are determined to ensure that the air conditions meet the necessary standards in August 2008," Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games, told the International Olympic Committee's executive board this month.
"我們下定決心，保證2008年8月的空氣質量達到標準，"奧運會組委會主席劉淇，本月對國際奧委會的成員說。
Beijing residents overwhelmingly support the Games and take for granted that officials will do what is necessary to ensure clean air. Last August, the city removed a million cars from roads during a four-day test intended to gauge pollution and traffic. But people also know that any emergency measures have a limited shelf life.
北京市民極其支援奧運會，認為為了保證乾淨的空氣，政府理應採取一切必要的措施。去年八月，北京市在4天的測試期中，限制100萬輛小汽車開上馬路，以便測試對空氣汙染和交通狀況的影響。但是，人們很清楚，所有這些臨時性措施都不可能長期有效。
"Yes, I heard about it," said an engineer at one factory that may temporarily be shut down. He refused to identify himself because he was criticizing government policy. "It is like you invite some guests to your home, and hide all your children underneath the bed to make the house look nicer. If all the polluting factories are shut down for the Olympics, there will be a major pollution outbreak afterward when all the factories restart, right?"
"對，我聽說了，"一位工程師說，他所在的工廠可能會在奧運會期間暫時關閉。他拒絕透露身份，但是他批評了這種政策。"這好比你在家裡請客，卻把小孩都藏在床底下，讓屋子看上去更整潔。如果高汙染工廠在奧運會期間都關閉了，那麼當這些工廠重開的時候，汙染會一下子爆發，對不對？"
Beijing officials say the Olympics will have a lasting and positive environmental legacy on the city. International Olympic Committee officials acknowledge that air quality remains a problem, but they say the air would be far worse without improvements made for the Games. "The general trend is improvement," said Simon Balderstone, an environmental adviser for the I.O.C.
北京市政府認為，奧運會對北京市的環境會有長期的正面影響。國際奧委會官員承認，空氣質量是一個難題，但是他們說，如果沒有奧運會，北京的空氣會糟糕得多。"總的趨勢是在改善，"Simon Balderstone說，他是國際奧委會的環境顧問。
But pollution is expected to remain a major, long-term challenge as Beijing's population may eventually exceed 20 million people. Scientists also say the city will never be able to clean itself up if surrounding industrial provinces are not cleaned up, too.
但是，汙染被認為會長期存在，並且隨著北京市人口逐漸超過2000萬，而成為一個首要的問題。科學家還說，如果周邊省份不控制汙染，那麼北京只靠自己永遠也無法變乾淨。
Blue skies, in other words, will remain a challenge.
換句話說，藍天將依然是一種挑戰。
Growth Offsets Gains
經濟增長抵消環境治理
In July 2001, Beijing won the right to serve as the host of the 2008 Games, a victory that carried a touch of vindication. Eight years earlier, the International Olympic Committee had rejected Beijing's first bid for a variety of reasons, including the city's polluted environment.
2001年7月，北京獲得了2008年奧運會主辦權，這個勝利帶著一點補償的性質。8年前，國際奧委會拒絕了北京申辦2000年奧運會的第一次請求，理由有許多，其中有一條就是北京的汙染。
This time, Beijing organizers promised a "Green Olympics."
這一次，北京的組織者承諾舉辦一次"綠色奧運會"。
"Beijing has come a long way since its last bid in 1993," said Wang Wei, a senior Beijing Olympics official, speaking at the city's final Olympic presentation in Moscow in 2001. "The city has taken giant steps to fight pollution caused by industrialization and economic growth."
"自從1993年第一次提出申請，北京已經做了很多工作，"王偉（音譯）談到2001年北京的申辦時這樣說，他是北京奧組委的高階官員。"這個城市採取了巨大的努力，治理工業化和經濟增長帶來的汙染。"
Beijing's environmental program had begun in 1997 and became the centerpiece of the city's Olympic environmental commitments. Urban sewage treatment has doubled since 2001. Use of natural gas has jumped 38-fold as city officials have converted thousands of dirty coal-fired furnaces and boilers. Factories have been shut down or relocated to the suburbs. Millions of trees have been planted.
北京的環境治理專案開始於1997年，後來成為了北京申辦奧運會時環境承諾的中心環節。從2001年以來，城市汙水處理率提高了一倍。天然氣使用率猛升了38倍，原因是市政府將幾千個燃煤的鍋爐轉為使用天然氣。工廠被關閉，或者遷到郊區。幾百萬棵樹木種植在城市中。
"For many years, the city had few environmental rules," said Mr. Balderstone, the I.O.C. environmental adviser, who regularly consults with Beijing officials. "It's like they are playing catch-up on a lot of these measures."
"許多年來，這個城市對環境幾乎不加以管理，"Balderstone先生說，他是國際奧委會的環境顧問，定期與北京市官員討論環境問題。"他們現在所做的更像是補救。"
But Beijing's Olympic bid also intensified a stunning urban boom. Since 2000, Beijing's gross domestic product has jumped 144 percent, according to Beijing Olympic officials. New office buildings and apartment towers seem to rise every week. More than 1.7 billion square feet of new construction has been started since 2002, most of it unrelated to the Olympics.
但是，與此同時，北京舉辦奧運會也急劇刺激了城市的快速繁榮。根據北京奧組委的資料，從2000年以來，北京的國內生產總值GDP增加了144%。新的寫字樓和公寓大樓每個星期都在拔地而起。從2002年以來，建築面積新增17億平方英尺，其中大部分與奧運會無關。
Cleaner Coal, but More of It
使用更多的煤
The emerging cityscape is often dazzling, but also energy intensive and polluting. Beijing now requires factories and power plants to burn cleaner, low-sulfur coal, but it had also hoped to reduce overall coal consumption in the years before the Olympics. Instead, the city's coal consumption peaked at 30 million tons last year. Beijing also has only one office tower that qualifies under international and national energy efficiency standards as a green building. Construction, meanwhile, is expected to continue at a rapid pace.
日新月異的城市面貌常常令人眩目，但也意味著更多的能源消耗和汙染。北京市現在要求工廠和電廠都使用較清潔的低硫煤，還希望在奧運會前，城市的煤炭消耗總量能夠下降。但是，事實上，北京的煤炭使用量去年達到了3000萬噸，創了歷史新高。另外，北京現在只有一幢寫字樓，符合國際標準的"綠色建築"。同時，北京的建築物預計還將以較快的速度增長。
"I think there will be another 20 to 30 years of urbanization," said Wu Weijia, a professor at Tsinghua University's Institute of Urban Studies. "The scale of construction in Beijing will not slow down after the Olympics."
"我想，北京的城市化還將持續20到30年，"吳蔚嘉（音譯）說，他是清華大學城市研究所的教授。"北京的施工在奧運會後並不會放慢。"
Meanwhile, an explosion of car ownership has wrought gridlocked traffic and a halo of auto fumes. Beijing now has more than three million vehicles and is adding more than 400,000 new cars and trucks each year. The city's reliance on cars and trucks leaves its air with few reprieves. As in other Chinese cities, heavy trucks can only enter at night. Diesel exhaust is so severe that Beijing's levels of PM 2.5, a tiny particulate deemed potentially harmful to health, is highest between midnight and 3 a.m., according to one survey.
另一方面，北京的車輛正在爆炸式增長，不僅造成交通擁堵，還帶來了大量的汽車尾氣。北京現有300多萬輛各種車輛，每年新增的小汽車和卡車超過40萬輛。這些車輛使得空氣汙染一日勝過一日。和其他中國城市一樣，重型卡車只能在晚上進城。根據一項調查，柴油發動機尾氣造成的汙染，使得北京的PM 2.5----一個衡量空氣微粒含量的指標，數值越高對健康越有害----在午夜和凌晨三點之間達到最高值。
Beijing is fighting auto pollution by instituting China's highest vehicle emissions standards. Nearly 79,000 new taxis with lower emissions have replaced older, outdated models. But Beijing has been unwilling to discourage private car ownership by instituting exorbitant fees as Shanghai has done. Depending on the car, license plates in Shanghai can cost as much as $7,000; as a result, Shanghai adds about one-fourth as many cars per year as Beijing.
北京市為了治理汽車尾氣汙染，制訂了中國最嚴格的尾氣排放標準。大約7.9萬輛汙染更低的新式計程車，取代了老式的型號。但是，北京市不願意像上海那樣徵收車牌費，控制私車增長量。上海的車牌費高達7000美元，結果使得上海每年新增的車輛只有北京的四分之一。
Beijing's problems are compounded because its public transportation system was neglected for years. Now, the city is expanding subway lines and finishing a rail line from the airport to downtown, but car ownership is expected to keep rising.
北京的問題是多方面原因造成的，多年來，北京的公共交通系統一直被忽視。現在，這個城市正在擴建地鐵，以及一條從機場到市區的輕軌。但是，車輛的增長預計還會持續。
"If you discourage people from having a car, the public transportation system would be overburdened," said Mr. Wu, the Tsinghua professor.
"如果你阻止人們擁有車輛，北京的公共交通系統根本無法承受。"清華大學吳教授說。
Taking Pollution's Measure
汙染測量有爭議
Mr. Kolb, the Canadian Olympic official, spent much of August in Beijing trying to answer the question hanging over the city as the Games approach: Has air quality actually improved?
加拿大奧委會的Kolb先生，8月份的大部分時間都待在北京，試圖找到答案。隨著奧運會的臨近，這個城市面臨著一個問題：有辦法改善空氣質量嗎？
An environmental physiologist, Mr. Kolb visited several stadiums, and sneaked into a few others, to measure pollution with a small monitoring device. On Aug. 5, his measurement of fine particles pollution, or PM 10, reached 200, roughly four times above the level deemed safe by the World Health Organization.
Kolb先生是一個環境生理學家，他檢視了幾個體育場，悄悄進入內部，用一個小型儀器測量汙染。8月5日，他測得顆粒汙染指標PM 10達到了200，大約是世界衛生組織認定的安全數值的4倍。
"We're worried," Mr. Kolb said. Of Beijing air pollution, he added: "There's no doubt about it. It's off the charts."
"我們很擔心，"Kolb先生說。對於北京的空氣汙染，他補充道："對它根本不用懷疑。它是史無前例的。"
A decade ago, Beijing introduced the Blue Sky program to measure sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and PM 10. Under the system, monitors take regular readings of each pollutant and then calculate a 24-hour average for each. The daily Blue Sky rating is determined by whichever pollutant has the highest 24-hour average.
十年前，北京開始統計藍天天數，測量二氧化硫、二氧化氮含量和PM 10。測量方法是，有關人員定時讀取每一種汙染物的含量，然後計算一個24小時的平均數。24小時平均值最高的一種汙染物的數量，決定了這一天是否是"藍天"。
For China's authoritarian government, the system represented a breakthrough. But it is less stringent than air-quality indexes in the United States. Indeed, a day that rates "good" in Beijing would usually be rated polluted in the United States.
對於中國政府，這種測量方法代表了一個突破。但是，它不像美國使用的空氣質量指數那樣嚴格。通常，北京認定的"好"天，在美國會被認定為汙染。
In 1998, Beijing recorded only 100 Blue Sky days. Each ensuing year, the city has improved the number until reaching the current 244 and pending. Cleaner coal has helped reduce sulfur dioxide by 25 percent since 2001. Nitrogen dioxide is also down. But Beijing's biggest problem is PM 10 and other particulates, which are attributed to construction, industry and cars.
1998年，北京只有100個藍天。其後每年，這個數字都在增長。今年已經達到了244天。低硫煤使得空氣中的二氧化硫比2001年下降了25%。二氧化氮也在下降。但是北京最大的問題是PM 10和其他一些微粒，它們是由建築施工、工業生產和汽車造成的。
Average daily levels of PM 10 exceed national and W.H.O. standards. In 2004, the concentration of airborne particulates in Beijing equaled that of New York, Los Angeles, Washington, Chicago and Atlanta combined, according to the United States Embassy in Beijing. Earlier this year, a report by the United Nations Environment Program concluded that "air pollution is still the single largest environmental and public health issue affecting the city."
北京的PM 10的日平均值超過了全國平均水平和世界衛生組織的標準。根據北京的美國大使館提供的資料，2004年，北京空氣中的微粒，等於紐約、洛杉磯、華盛頓、芝加哥和亞特蘭大的總和。今年早些時候，一份聯合國環境專案的研究報告說，"空氣汙染是北京環境和影響公共健康的最大單個問題。"
"Particularly worrying are the levels of small particulate matter (PM 10) in the atmosphere, which is severely deleterious to public health," the report stated.
"尤其令人擔憂的是空氣中的微粒含量（PM 10），它對公眾健康極其有害。"這份報告這樣寫道。
The Blue Sky system sets a maximum rating of 500, meaning that on the worst days the actual pollution level could be even higher. "Good" air in Beijing is any Blue Sky rating below 101. But even good air is often not very good; this year, Beijing has had 65 days that rated between 95 and 100. That bulge just inside the break point has attracted attention on Web sites and even at one foreign embassy, which compiled a statistical analysis casting doubt on the Blue Sky results, though the embassy's officials refuse to discuss the findings.
北京市衡量藍天的最大值是500，代表了汙染最嚴重的天氣，實際的汙染可能大於這個值。北京的"好"空氣，就是數值低於101時的天氣。但是，即使是"好"空氣，實際上也不是那麼好。今年，北京有65天的數值在95到100之間。臨界點之下有這麼大的異常密集區，在網上引發了很多關注，甚至美國大使館自己做了一份統計分析，質疑北京的藍天天數。不過，大使館的官員不願意討論這件事。
Du Shaozhong, deputy director of Beijing's Environmental Protection Bureau, said the ratings were not manipulated. "People used to ask me if the ratings are scientific, or if we are playing any tricks," Mr. Du said. "But this is most advanced equipment in the world."
北京環保局的副局長杜少中說，藍天數量沒有受到人為操縱。"有人曾經問我，這個結果是否科學，或者我們是否改動了資料，"杜先生說。"實際情況是這是世界上最先進的儀器測出來的。"
Mr. Kolb said Olympic athletes were worried about ozone, which can inflame the respiratory tract and make it more difficult to breathe. But Beijing's monitoring system does not measure ozone, nor does it measure the finer particulates known as PM 2.5.
Kolb先生說，奧運會選手很擔心臭氧，它對呼吸道有刺激作用，使人難於呼吸。但是，北京的監測指標不包括臭氧，也不測量更細小的微粒含量PM 2.5。
This year, a team of Chinese and American scientists analyzed air quality issues for the Olympics and found that Beijing's daily concentrations of PM 2.5 rated anywhere from 50 percent to 200 percent higher than American standards. Their study, published in the journal Atmospheric Environment, also found that ozone regularly exceeded levels deemed safe by American standards.
今年，一組中國和美國的科學家研究了奧運會的空氣質量問題，發現北京的PM 2.5的日平均值比美國標準高出50%到200%。他們的研究結果，發表在大氣環境的學術刊物上。該研究還發現，北京的臭氧含量也超過了美國認定的安全標準。
Studies are under way to assess the health impact of pollution in Beijing. One 2003 study warned that air pollution could be a major contributor to premature deaths related to chronic pulmonary disease, especially in the winter. Another study showed that visits to hospital emergency rooms rose on days with higher pollution levels.
還有一些研究正在評估北京的汙染對人體健康的影響。一項2003年的研究發出警告，在由慢性肺病引發的死亡中，空氣汙染是主要原因，尤其是在冬天。另一項研究顯示，醫院急症人數的多少，與當天的汙染程度有關。
On a recent afternoon at Beijing Hospital, Dr. Li Yi, a respiratory specialist, said he now saw 50 patients a day for respiratory problems compared with about half that a decade ago. He said asthma cases had increased sharply, as had the number of patients with nonsmoking-related lung cancer.
在近期的某一天下午，北京醫院呼吸道專家李毅（音譯）醫生說，他現在每天治療50個呼吸疾病患者，是十年前的一倍。他說，哮喘病人增加極快，不吸菸的肺癌患者也增加很快。
"You can't say that pollution is the only reason," Dr. Li said. "But nonsmoking-related lung cancer is now increasing more quickly."
"不能說汙染是唯一的原因，"李醫生說。"但是現在不吸菸的肺癌患者不斷快速增加。"
Beyond the Olympics
奧運會結束後會怎樣
In August, Beijing marked the one-year countdown to the Games with a celebration at Tiananmen Square and several test competitions at different sites. Jacques Rogge, president of the I.O.C., applauded Beijing's preparations, but also cautioned that pollution might force the postponement of some endurance sports.
今年8月，北京市在天安門舉辦慶祝儀式，標誌奧運會一週年倒數計時開始。好幾項測試性的體育比賽在不同的場館舉行。國際奧委會主席羅格對北京的準備工作表示滿意，但是也擔心汙染可能會迫使某些耐力專案推遲。
Hu Fei, director of the Institute of Atmosphere Physics in Beijing, said any concern was misplaced. "Don't worry about the Olympics," Mr. Hu said, expressing confidence that contingency plans would produce clean air for the Games. "We need to be concerned about the long term."
北京大氣物理研究所所長鬍飛（音譯）說，人們的擔心都放錯了地方。"別管奧運會了，"胡先生說，他對政府的應對措施非常有信心，相信奧運會期間會有乾淨的空氣。"我們要關注的是長期效果。"
Mr. Hu said finding a long-term fix is difficult because of Beijing's geography. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Beijing depends on strong winds to disperse pollution. Yet winds also draw pollution into the city. The study in Atmospheric Environment estimated that as much as 60 percent of ozone detected at the National Stadium could be traced to outside provinces.
胡先生說，找到長期的解決辦法很困難，由於北京的地理條件不好。北京三面環山，完全依靠外部的風驅散汙染。但是有時候，風會把外面的汙染吹進來。根據一項對大氣環境的研究，在國家體育場測到的臭氧中，多達60%來源於外省。
"Beijing is a pollution source itself, and it is surrounded by other pollution sources," Mr. Hu said. "When you have wind, it brings in pollution from other sources. When you don't have wind, the local pollution cannot disperse."
"北京本身是一個汙染源，然後又被其他汙染源包圍著，"胡先生說。"起風時，外部的汙染就吹進來。要是不起風，本地的汙染又無法驅散。"
Xu Jianping, 55, a business consultant, does not need to be told that Beijing is overrun with cars and construction. He is an avid in-line skater who enjoyed skating to work until pollution left him spitting out black phlegm. He went online and ordered a gas mask.
55歲的徐建平（音譯）是一個諮詢專家，他對北京的車輛和建築物之多最有體會，因為他是一個輪滑愛好者，每天穿著輪滑鞋去上班。直到有一天，汙染的空氣使得他吐出了黑痰。於是，他上網訂購了一套防毒面具。
"But I don't want to wear it," said Mr. Xu, fearing his mask would be misinterpreted as a protest against the Olympics. "It would hurt China's image."
"但是，我不會戴上它，"徐先生說，戴著這樣的面具會被認為是對奧運會的抗議。"這可能會損害中國的形象。"
So until the Games are over, Mr. Xu is taking the bus to the office. He plans to vacation outside the city during the Games. Then, when life in Beijing returns to normal, he plans to resume skating to work -- with his mask, if necessary.
所以，在奧運會結束前，徐先生乘坐公共汽車去上班。奧運會期間，他計劃到外地度假。然後，等到北京的生活回覆正常，他再接著穿輪滑鞋去上班----戴著他的防毒面具，如果有必要的話。
（完）