60秒科学:Cigarettes Are Bacteria Sticks,Too

Cigarettes Are Bacteria Sticks, Too
A study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives finds that cigarettes harbor various species of bacteria, some of which cause disease. Karen Hopkin reports

This January, the country Turkey will join a handful of European nations that require “visual health warnings” on every pack of cigarettes. These images include things like diseased lungs and a foot sporting a toe tag. But maybe a Petri dish overrun with bacteria should make the list. Because a new study shows that cigarettes are contaminated with a bevy¹ of nasty bugs², including some that cause disease. The report will appear in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Burning and inhaling³ that heady mix of tar⁴ and nicotine⁵, not to mention the benzene and other chemicals in tobacco smoke, can promote lung cancer and emphysema. And now it seems that cigarettes could also deliver a dose of respiratory infection. Scientists used what are called gene⁶ chips to identify the microbes present in four different brands of smokes. And the list they found reads like a syllabus⁷ for Microbiology 101: it includes Acinetobacter, clostridium, klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, all of which can make people sick.

The researchers think some bugs can probably survive in the smoke. (inhalation sound) Ahhhhh. So carcinogenic. And now, with bacterial⁸ pathogens!
 

1 bevy   

n.一群

参考例句：

• A bevy of bathing beauties appeared on the beach.沙滩上出现了一群游泳的美女。
• Look,there comes a bevy of ladies.看，一群女人来了。

2 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 inhaling   

v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
• The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

4 tar   

n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于

参考例句：

• The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
• We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。

5 nicotine   

n.(化)尼古丁，烟碱

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily.许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。

6 gene   

n.遗传因子，基因

参考例句：

• A single gene may have many effects.单一基因可能具有很多种效应。
• The targeting of gene therapy has been paid close attention.其中基因治疗的靶向性是值得密切关注的问题之一。

7 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

8 bacterial   

a.细菌的

参考例句：

• Bacterial reproduction is accelerated in weightless space. 在失重的空间，细菌繁殖加快了。
• Brain lesions can be caused by bacterial infections. 大脑损伤可能由细菌感染引起。