hospitals' environmental footprints

Hospitals try to curb astronomical emissions

多家医院试图遏制规模惊人的碳排放

"If the world's health services were a country, it would be the fifth-largest carbon emitter on the planet," according to Health Care Without Harm, a global organization that advocates for ecologically sustainable healthcare practices.

“如果全世界的医疗服务系统成了一个国家,那么它将是地球上的第五大碳排放国,”倡导生态可持续医疗实践的国际无害医疗组织(Health Care Without Harm)如此表示。

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Now, there are a growing number of healthcare workers who are improving their – and their hospitals' – environmental footprints.

如今,越来越多的医护人员正在改善他们自身及其所在医院的“环境足迹”。

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Usually, nurses or assistants open all the equipment a doctor might need for a procedure. Staff in the UK's National Health Service Sustainable Development Unit have worked with suppliers to design medical equipment packs instead of individually wrapped products since 2015. This reduced packaging waste by 90% (2.6 tonnes a year), according to an article published in the Nursing Times.

通常情况下,护士或助手会将医生在一次手术中可能需要的所有器材一并拆开。自 2015 年开始,英国国家医疗服务系统可持续发展部的工作人员就与供应商合作,设计医疗器材组合包,而非独立包装的产品。据一篇发表在《护理时代》的文章显示,此举减少了 90% 的包装垃圾(每年 2.6 吨)。

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In 2019, Carilion Clinic in Virginia started to purchase reprocessed products. While controlling infection in a hospital setting is paramount, equipment such as washable gowns and blood pressure pumps can be reused if processed correctly, saving hospitals from tossing out tonnes of waste.

2019 年,弗吉尼亚州的 Carilion 诊所开始采购二次处理过的产品。虽然院内感染的防控工作是重中之重,但若处理得当,可清洗的罩衣和血泵等设备可以重复使用,从而避免医院丢弃成吨的废物。

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In light of the pandemic, concern over the sustainability has been put aside, namely because of the need for continuous ventilation, greater hospitalization capacity and disposable equipment like gloves and masks. However, the pandemic has also brought some positive changes.

疫情当前,人们对可持续性的关注已被搁置一旁;持续通风、更大的住院容纳量、以及手套口罩等一次性设备才是眼前的需求。不过,这次疫情也带来了一些积极的变化。

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Shortage of protective equipment in the healthcare system pushed hospitals to be more stringent with its use. Appointments have moved online, reducing commutes and the emissions associated with them. Sara Wohlford, manager of Carilion Clinic, said she is seeing more willingness to engage in sustainability practices.

医疗系统中防护设备的紧缺,迫使医院更加严格克制器材设备的使用。线下问诊转移到了线上,这减少了人们的通勤,以及随之而来的碳排放。Carilion 诊所经理 Sara Wohlford 说,她正看到越来越多的人愿意参与可持续性实践。

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主编:大仔

品控:大仔

审核:Jojo

Photo Credit:VICTORIA RAZO / AFP

重点词汇

curb

/kɝːb/

v. 控制,遏制

搭配短语:to curb one's bad temper(控制某人的坏脾气)

搭配短语:to curb inflation(抑制通货膨胀)

搭配短语:to curb tax evasion(打击逃税)

astronomical

/ˌæs.trəˈnɑː.mɪ.kəl/

adj. 天文数字的,规模惊人的;天文学的

相关词汇:astronomy(n. 天文学)

词根词缀:astro-(与星星或太空相关的)

相关词汇:astronomer(天文学家)

相关词汇:astronaut(宇航员)

例句:In many large cities, housing costs are astronomical.

emitter

/ɪˈmɪt̬.ɚ/

n. 排放者

相关词汇:emit(v. 排放)

相关词汇:emission(n. 排放)

写作补充:以 er- 结尾的部分表示“XX 者”的名词,可以用来指代国家或产业。

例句:The United States is the largest consumer of beef in the world.(美国是全球最大的牛肉消费国。)

例句:The fashion industry is the second largest polluter in the world.(时装业是世界第二大污染源。)

sustainable

/səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl/

adj. 可持续的

相关词汇:sustain(v. 持续)

例句:The economy will sustain its growth next year.

词根词缀:-able(能…的)

搭配短语:sustainable development

相关词汇:sustainability(n. 可持续性)

practice

/ˈpræk.tɪs/

n. 习惯做法,惯例

例句:In the US, tipping is a common practice.

搭配短语:best practice(最佳实践,规范做法,操作方案)

例句:China will be more than ready to share its good practices to countries hit by the growing outbreak.

procedure

/prəˈsiː.dʒɚ/

n. 手术

近义词:operation(n. 手术)

pack

/pæk/

n. 组合包,一整套;一包,一盒

搭配短语:a family pack of crisps(家庭装薯片)

英文释义:a set of different things that are supplied together for a particular purpose(组合包)

搭配短语:a welcome pack(迎新礼包)

近义词:package(n. 组合包,一整套;包裹)

搭配短语:an aid package(急救包)

搭配短语:a package tour(跟团游)

搭配短语:a package of measures to stimulate the economy(一系列刺激经济的措施)

wrap

/ræp/

v. 包装,包起来

packaging

/ˈpæk.ɪ.dʒɪŋ/

n. 包装材料

搭配短语:biodegradable packaging(可生物降解的包装材料)

reprocess

/ˌriːˈprɑː.ses/

v. 再处理(废弃物)

词根词缀:re-(再次)

相关词汇:process(v. 加工,处理)

英文释义:to treat waste material so that it can be used again

搭配短语:to reprocess nuclear waste

setting

/ˈset̬.ɪŋ/

n. 背景,环境

搭配短语:a hotel in a beautiful mountain setting

paramount

/ˈper.ə.maʊnt/

n. 首要的,至关重要的;至高无上的

英文释义:more important than anything else

例句: This matter is paramount. / This matter is of paramount importance.

gown

/ɡaʊn/

n. 罩衣;长袍

搭配短语:bachelor's gown(学士服)

搭配短语:isolation gown(隔离防护服)

搭配短语:surgical gown(手术衣)

toss out

扔出,扔弃

相关词汇:toss(v. (漫不经心地)抛掷,扔弃)

英文释义:to throw something carelessly

搭配短语:tossed-aside masks(乱扔的口罩)

in (the) light of

因为,鉴于

近义短语:because of / in consideration of

例句:In light of the severe weather, graduation will be postponed.

namely

/ˈneɪm.li/

adv. 即,也就是

例句:The United Kingdom sometimes participate in sporting events as four countries, namely England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

近义短语:that is to say

ventilation

/ˌven.t̬əlˈeɪ.ʃən/

n. 通风换气;供氧

相关词汇:ventilate(v. 通风换气;供氧)

相关词汇:ventilator(v. 换气扇;呼吸机)

搭配短语:kitchen ventilator(抽油烟机)

hospitalization

/ˈhɑː.spɪ.t̬əl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/

n. 住院

相关词汇:hospital(n. 医院)

相关词汇:hospitalize(v. 送……入院治疗)

例句:He was hospitalized for chest pains.

capacity

/kəˈpæs.ə.t̬i/

n. 容量

例句:Cinemas are operating at limited capacity. (电影院正在以有限的上座率运营。)

disposable

/dɪˈspoʊ.zə.bəl/

adj. 一次性的

相关短语:to dispose of sth.(丢弃,处理)

搭配短语:disposable chopsticks

stringent

/ˈstrɪn.dʒənt/

adj. 严格的,严苛的;(财政上)紧缩的

搭配短语:stringent safety regulations(严格的)

搭配短语:the government's stringent economic policies(紧缩的)

appointment

/əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/

n. 约定的会面

搭配短语:to make a dental appointment(预约牙科就诊)

commute

/kəˈmjuːt/

n. 通勤

词性拓展:commute(v. 通勤)

例句:She commutes daily between Suzhou and Shanghai.

例句:I have a long commute to my workplace.

engage

/ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/

v. 参与

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