空气污染--兴趣阅读--非作业-.doc

这篇不是课外阅读作业，无需提交内容概要--Spike Air pollution could become Chinas biggest health threat, expert warns Leading respiratory disease specialist warns of consequences if government fails to monitor and publicise the dangers of smog About this article Close Air pollution could become Chinas biggest health threat, expert warns This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 11.34 GMT on Friday 16 March 2012. It was last modified at 11.34 GMT on Friday 16 March 2012. An aerial view of buildings amid the haze of pollution engulfing Wuhan, in central Chinas Hubei province. Photograph: STR/AFP/Getty Images Air pollution will become the biggest health threat in China unless the government takes greater steps to monitor and publicise the dangers of smog, the countrys leading respiratory disease specialist warned this week. Lung cancer and cardiovascular illnesses are already rising and could get worse in the future because of factory emissions, vehicle exhausts and cigarette smoke, Zhong Nanshan, the president of the China Medical Association, told the Guardian. The outspoken doctor – who won nationwide respect for revealing the cover-up of the Sars epidemic in 2002 – said the authorities are starting to learn the lessons of past health crises by being more transparent about the risks posed by contaminated air. Unless there is more openness, he said, public trust will be eroded. Air pollution is getting worse and worse in China, but the government data showed it was getting better and better. People dont believe that. Now we know its because they didnt measure some pollutants, said Zhong. If the government neglects this matter, it will be the biggest health problem facing China. Earlier this month, the government promised to be more open. It has been a long time coming. Beijing and other major cities have experienced dire levels of air pollution for more than a decade, but the government has been reluctant to investigate and publicly disclose the medical consequences. Zhong said h