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NL888 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

The source of the air pollution for specific ambient pollutants?

Failed to understand the meaning of "for" in "the source of the air pollution for specific ambient pollutants"
Does "for" here mean "due to/because of"?

Context:

Three areas should be highlighted in the effort to tackle China's massive environmental challenge. First, research priorities should go beyond estimating health risks and address the effects and cost-benefit ratios of specific policy and environmental interventions, the source of the air pollution for specific ambient pollutants, and the protective role of masks and air purifiers. Second, clean and affordable energy sources and public transport systems must be prioritised by the government. Temporary measures such as restrictions on factories and vehicles, while useful in the short term, are unlikely to have major effects on preventing the kind of severe smog seen recently. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)61878-3, industrialisation, motorisation, and rapid economic growth all play a part, as reported in a Comment last year by Chen Zhu, President of the Chinese Medical Association. 52% of the total population in China live in urban areas. The country accounts for 50% of the world's total coal consumption and also has a large rural population still reliant on solid fuel cooking. The international community should support China to improve air quality while also examining its own contribution to air and water pollution through its demand for cheap Chinese products and manufacturing processes.
  

Top answer

the source of the air pollution that releases/generates specific ambient pollutants For example, factories in industry X might release pollutant Y. The use of "for" feels slightly vague to me. Normally one would say "the source of specific ambient pollutants", but perhaps, having already used "of" in the sentence, the author did not quite know what to do at this point.

  • the source of the air pollution that releases/generates specific ambient pollutants For example, factories in industry X might release pollutant Y.
  • The use of "for" feels slightly vague to me.
  • Normally one would say "the source of specific ambient pollutants", but perhaps, having already used "of" in the sentence, the author did not quite know what to do at this point.
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2 Answers
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the source of the air pollution that releases/generates specific ambient pollutants

For example, factories in industry X might release pollutant Y.

The use of "for" feels slightly vague to me. Normally one would say "the source of specific ambient pollutants", but perhaps, having already used "of" in the sentence, the author did not quite know what to do at this point.
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NL888Failed to understand the meaning of "for" in "the source of the air pollution for specific ambient pollutants"Does "for" here mean "due to/because of"?
This is my take on the article:
I'd say not. In American English, "for" is not commonly used to mean "due

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