Unit Two Historical Overview of Hazardous Substance Disposal in the USA
回顾美国处置危险物品的历史
Hazardous substance disposal practices in the United States have traveled full circle.在美国，处理危险物品的做法走过了迂回的道路。
Prior to 1978 there were few if any regulations regarding the disposal of these materials. 1978年之前，很少有任何关于如何处置这些物品的法规。
Improper disposal of many of these chemicals resulted in health problems for many citizens, contaminated water supplies, and destruction of wildlife. 这些化学物品的不当处置使市民陷入健康问题，水供应受污染和野生死亡。
With the enactment of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1978, manufacturing facilities now have an obligation to account for all waste materials that are generated by the facility. 随着《资源回收法》（1978年）的颁布，工厂有责任处置生产设施所产生的所有废弃材料 。
Implementation of RCRA has been slow. 但是《资源回收法》的实施一直进展缓慢。
From the very early industrial period in the United States, which started about 1920, until several years after the Second World War, there was little concern for the proper methods of disposal of waste materials that were generated as by-products during manufacturing processes. 在美国,从大约1920年开始的早期工业时代，第二次世界大战结束后几年里，几乎没人关注处理在生产过程中作为副产品产生的废弃材料的合理方法。
Up until the 1960’s it was quite common to find fresh water rivers and streams fouled with waste chemicals from manufacturing, salt water from oil production wells and waste acids from steel mill activities. 直到1920年，随处可见被生产过程产生的废化学品、油井排出的盐水和炼钢厂排出的废酸所污染的淡水河流和溪涧。
Virtually every conceivable waste oil, solvent, or resin waste could be found in the rivers.事实上，所有能够想象到的废物如废油、溶剂、废树脂都可以在河流里面找到。
The laws of the time were either non-existent or not enforced. 然而当时的相关法律要么不存在，要么是没有被实施。
The literature has many examples of health problems of individuals as well as destruction of fish and wildlife habitat. 文献记载了许多关于个体的健康问题以及鱼类、野生动物栖息地被破坏的例子。
Many other cases occurred that were not reported in the literature.许多其他发生的事件并未记载在文献上。
Other waste materials were dumped haphazardly in makeshift excavations either at the factory side or throughout the country side. 其他废弃物质被草率地埋在临时挖掘在工厂还有乡村旁边的坑洞里面。
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