Bad Smells in Cities: Technology Helps
Listen
Vocabulary
Article
A city in California has a big problem. Bad smells come from a landfill and factories. People who live near these places cannot open their windows. For ten years, one woman could not breathe fresh air at home. Now the city is using technology to fix this problem.
Using Machines to Find Bad Smells
The landfill owners must use drones and special machines. These machines watch for bad smells every day and night. They measure the chemicals that make the bad odours. The machines send information to computers. This helps people find problems very quickly and easily.
Many Cities Have This Problem
Cities around the world have bad smell problems. Garbage dumps, factories, and sewage plants make smells. Many countries do not have rules about smells. Some people try to hide bad smells with sprays. But most experts say sprays do not really work.
Discussion Questions
- Why do some people in Milpitas have bad smells in their homes?
- What two machines will help find bad smells at the landfill?
- Can sprays hide bad smells? What do experts say?
- Why are more houses now near factories and dumps?
- What can technology do to help people breathe better air?
Open the full interactive lesson with tap-to-hear on every word →