20年之内你也会得花粉症么？

 　　Half the population could suffer from hay fever within 20 years，experts warn..

　　专家们警告说，世界上一半的人口将在20年内患上花粉症。

　　Some 15 million Britons are currently afflicted¹, but with more people moving to cities, the number of sufferers will double to 32million by 2030.

　　英国有约1500万人目前已染上这种病症，而且随着越来越多的人口向城市迁移，这一数字将在2030年前成倍增长，达到3200万。

　　The rise will be fuelled by air pollution in urban areas which exacerbates² the symptoms of sneezing, runny nose and eyes triggered by pollen³, says the Hay Fever Health Report.

　　这一上升趋势主要是城市空气污染所造成的，污染也会加重像打喷嚏、流鼻涕以及花粉引起的眼睛不适等类似的病发症。

　　The rise could affect productivity because one in five sufferers takes time off work when their symptoms are at their worst.

　　同时，花粉症患者数量的增加还会影响工作效率，因为每五个患者中，就有一位会在他们症状严重时请假休息。

　　The report forecasts the biggest rises in London and Birmingham, with 45 per cent of the cities' population affected⁴, up from the current 25 per cent.

　　报告中预测，伦敦和伯明翰这两座城市患花粉症的人数，将会从之前的25%上升到45%的人口。

　　Those in coastal⁵ areas and Scotland will be better off, with 39 per cent expected to suffer.

　　那些沿海地区以及苏格兰地区的状况可能会好一些，我们预测患病者人数将会是总人口的39%。

1 afflicted   

使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
• A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

2 exacerbates   

n.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的名词复数 )v.使恶化，使加重( exacerbate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Stripping the land in these ways allows faster surface runoff and exacerbates flooding. 这些做法终将使土地裸露、地表径流加快，从而加重了洪水的威胁。 来自辞典例句
• This policy exacerbates the gap between rich and poor. 这项政策加剧了贫富差距。 来自互联网

3 pollen   

n.[植]花粉

参考例句：

• Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。