北京雾霾“兵临城下” 马年烟花生意能否马上火？Fireworks on Sale in Beijing amid Pollution Concerns

Fireworks and firecrackers have long been hot items on people's shopping list during New Year celebrations in China. Starting Saturday, these items were permitted to be sold in Beijing. A new kind of environmentally friendly fireworks and firecrackers are being introduced to the market, but vendors are still worrying that business may not be good due to people's growing concerns over air pollution.
在中国，烟花爆竹一直是春节购物的热门。从周六开始，北京地区的销售网点开始卖烟花爆竹。虽然市场上出现了一种新的环保烟花，但商贩们还是担心今年的生意会因为大家的环保意识提升而受影响。

Setting off fireworks and firecrackers is a Chinese tradition, but nowadays, people have realized that it could lead to a sharp jump in the density of pollutants including the harmful PM 2.5. To help ease air pollution problem, fireworks companies claim they have come up with environmentally friendly products this year.
春节放烟花爆竹是传统活动，但人们已经认识到这种习俗会导致污染物PM2.5的浓度直线飙升。为减轻污染问题，烟花厂声明说他们今年生产了环保产品。

Wei Bo is from the Marketing Department of Panda Fireworks Company in Beijing. He said "This year we introduced fireworks containing zero sulfur. They not only give off less smoke but also don't produce massive paper scraps."
魏波是熊猫烟花集团北京市场部的工作人员，他介绍说：“今年我们生产了零硫磺烟花，不仅燃放时产生的烟更少，而且不会有大量纸屑。”

Wei adds that such fireworks cost more because of the different manufacturing techniques employed and filling materials used, making the price 3 percent higher than conventional fireworks.
魏还介绍说这样的烟花因为采用了不同的生产工艺和填充材料会造价更高，价格上比传统的烟花高出3%。

However, since last year, a policy has been in place in Beijing that bans residents from setting off firecrackers when air pollution is bad to a certain degree, and sale and even transport of fireworks will be halted if air pollution is serious enough.
但从去年开始北京市就出台了政策，当空气污染到一定级别就禁止市民燃放烟花，当污染严重到一定程度烟花销售和运输都得停止。

Wei said many salesmen are concerned about their business because of these factors. "Many retailers or distributors are pretty cautious about their stocks. This year, their inventories have decreased by 8 to 10 percent compared to last year."
魏说很多烟花销售人员担心这些因素会影响生意。“很多小贩和批发商囤货的时候都很谨慎。今年他们的库存相比去年都减少了8%到10%。”

A salesman surnamed Gao works at a fireworks shop in Beijing's Shijingshan District.  He said, "The business is almost the same as last year, but the number of people who buy fireworks is less than last year. Many people just come to inquire about the price and where they can light these firecrackers and so on. Very few eventually buy any."
在北京石景山区烟花销售网点，一位姓高的的销售人员说：“生意跟去年差不多，但买烟花的人比去年少。有些人只是过来问问价格，咨询哪能放等，真正买的人不多。”

Gao notes that there is increasing awareness of air protection in Beijing residents, so he has been trying to recommend the environmentally friendly fireworks.
高解释说北京市民的环保意识增加了，所以他也一直在推荐买环保烟花。

However, as one of the passers by at Gao's fireworks stand says residents still have their own opinions about whether or not they will use fireworks and firecrackers during the upcoming Spring Festival.
但是，一位路过销售网点的人说，过节不论是放还是不放烟花，大家都有自己的看法。

"Because of the serious smog in Beijing, I think people should try not to set off fireworks, but if some people really like to celebrate the festival, I hope they could try these new and environmentally friendly products."
“北京雾霾太严重了，我觉得大家还是应该尽量不放烟花。如果有些人真的很想庆祝一下，我还是希望能选择一些新的更环保的产品。”