CCTV9英语新闻：新加坡保证安全生产对二甲苯

Around Asia, Singapore is known as one of the world’s leading chemical manufacturing hubs. It has attracted a number of global industry players despite strict environmental controls. The city-state’s chemical industry is managing to protect people and property while working with some very dangerous substances. 

 

Professor William Chen teaches drug metabolism 1 at School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological 2 University. He is an expert on how human body deals with not only drugs, but also chemicals, like pollutants 3. We ask him about the toxicity 5 of paraxylene, or PX, the chemical that caused concerns in China.

 

"Paraxylene is an aromatic 6 compound; usually you find it in the air. Fortunately, our body can dispose of this compound pretty easily, so it does not accumulate in our body under normal situation. On the other hand, all these toxic 4 effect to our body all depends on the duration of the exposure, in additional to the concentration. If I have a chronic 7 exposure, over time you are exposed to paraxylene, the effect may be not negligible." Chen said. 

 

Paraxylene is a chemical essential to the process of manufacturing plastic bottles and polyester clothing. The demand for this chemical is increasing, with Asia accounts for more than two-thirds of the global needs. Singapore is also a producer. Jurong Aromatics 8 Corporation, a joint 9 venture between eight shareholders 10, including Singapore’s Economic Development Board, is building a 2.4 billion dollar complex that is scheduled to operate this month. Like other petrochemical companies, JAC is located on Jurong Island.

 

Behind me, all these vehicles are waiting to go through the checkpoint to enter Jurong Island, which is the centerpiece of Singapore’s energy and chemical industry. It started as a bold dream to turn seven little islands surrounded by seawater and swampland into an integrated chemical hub. Today. Jurong Island is home to more than 100 global petrochemical companies with over 33 billion dollars in investment. 

 

As a self-contained hub with a network of infrastructure 11, Jurong Island is a one-stop shop for chemical companies. The island is 2-point-3 kilometers away from mainland Singapore, and is under constant air, sea and land surveillance. At the checkpoint, security screenings are carried out as vehicles and personnel enter Jurong Island. The chemical hub also has its own fire station with a team of 40 fire fighters. The station can respond to emergency situation in any part of the island in less than 8 minutes.

 

To argue about whether paraxylene is high toxicity or low toxicity is futile 12. Singapore’s example shows the crucial part to manage the chemical sector 13 is to ensure the industry takes good precaution and implements 14 the safety measures properly. Therefore, there will be very little leakage 15 to the environment.

 

点击收听单词发音  






1
metabolism

  
 


n.新陈代谢


参考例句：





After years of dieting,Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.经过数年的节食，卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了。
All living matter undergoes a process of metabolism.生物都有新陈代谢。












2
technological

  
 


adj.技术的；工艺的


参考例句：





A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。












3
pollutants

  
 


污染物质（尤指工业废物）( pollutant的名词复数 )


参考例句：





Pollutants are constantly being released into the atmosphere. 污染物质正在不断地被排放到大气中去。
The 1987 Amendments limit 301(g) discharges to a few well-studied nonconventional pollutants. 1987年的修正案把第301条（g）的普通排放限制施加在一些认真研究过的几种非常规污染物上。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法












4
toxic

  
 


adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的


参考例句：





The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。












5
toxicity

  
 


n.毒性，毒力


参考例句：





The hoarse grunt or squeal is characteristic of toxicity.嘶哑的哼声和叫声是中毒的特征。
Dieldrin is related to aldrin,and its toxicity to earthworms is similar.狄氏剂与艾氏剂有关，对蚯蚓的毒性是相似的。












6
aromatic

  
 


adj.芳香的，有香味的


参考例句：





It has an agreeable aromatic smell.它有一种好闻的香味。
It is light,fruity aromatic and a perfect choice for ending a meal.它是口感轻淡，圆润，芳香的，用于结束一顿饭完美的选择。












7
chronic

  
 


adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的


参考例句：





Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。












8
aromatics

  
 


n.芳香植物( aromatic的名词复数 )；芳香剂，芳香药物


参考例句：





The simplest member of the aromatics series is benzene. 芳香烃系列中最简单的一个化合物是苯。 来自辞典例句
Its hydrogenation activity in aromatics saturation and ring opening activity were investigated. 芳烃加氢饱和及开环反应是一种提高柴油十六烷值的有效途径。 来自互联网












9
joint

  
 


adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合


参考例句：





I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。












10
shareholders

  
 


n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )


参考例句：





The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任












11
infrastructure

  
 


n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施


参考例句：





We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。












12
futile

  
 


adj.无效的，无用的，无希望的


参考例句：





They were killed,to the last man,in a futile attack.因为进攻失败，他们全部被杀，无一幸免。
Their efforts to revive him were futile.他们对他抢救无效。












13
sector

  
 


n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形


参考例句：





The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。












14
implements

  
 


n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效


参考例句：





Primitive man hunted wild animals with crude stone implements. 原始社会的人用粗糙的石器猎取野兽。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
They ordered quantities of farm implements. 他们订购了大量农具。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》












15
leakage

  
 


n.漏，泄漏；泄漏物；漏出量


参考例句：





Large areas of land have been contaminated by the leakage from the nuclear reactor.大片地区都被核反应堆的泄漏物污染了。
The continuing leakage is the result of the long crack in the pipe.这根管子上的那一条裂缝致使渗漏不断。