VOA标准英语2012--Rising Temperatures, Rising Health Problems

Rising Temperatures, Rising Health Problems

气候变化带来健康问题

Scientists say the effects of climate change could actually make breathing more difficult for many people. They expect rising temperatures to bring an increase in cases of asthma¹ and allergies², as well as infectious and cardiovascular diseases.

科学家们称气候变化带来的影响可以让很多人的呼吸更为困难。他们预计不断升高的气温将增加哮喘和过敏症状,以及感染和心血管疾病。

Study co-author, professor Kent Pinkerton,Lun said rising temperatures bring a host of conditions that can adversely³ affect people’s health. For example, ozone⁴ levels may rise in urban areas. There may be more wildfires emitting smoke and soot⁵. Desertification could increase and create more dust. There may also be a lot more pollen⁶. And disease carrying insects and animals may be more prevalent.

研究报告的撰写人之一肯特?平克顿教授称温度的上升会为影响人们的健康的条件带来很多主观条件。例如,臭氧层级别会在城市地区上升。可能会有越来越多的野火烟排放烟尘。沙漠化可能会增加，进而带来更多的尘埃。还会有更多的花粉。携带疾病的昆虫和动物可能会更加普遍。

“Our greatest concern really centered around the fact that many of the pulmonary physicians and respiratory professionals are really not very well aware of the fact that climate change has an important impact on their patients,” he said.

“我们最担心的就是许多肺病医师和呼吸道专家真的不太了解气候变化对他们的病人产生了重要的影响这一事实。”他说道。

A lot worse than a runny nose

Pinkerton has some bad news for allergy⁷ sufferers about pollen.

平克顿对于花粉过敏患者有一些坏消息。

“Those who suffer from allergies may actually be finding that that season that impacts on their health and on their allergies is becoming longer,” he said.

“那些过敏患者可能发现季节影响他们的健康而且他们的过敏症症状正在逐渐增加。”他说道。

A Tuareg woman walks during a sandstorm in Ingal, Niger, September 18, 2011. Scientists say such storms could increase with climate change. 

However, he added the effects can be much worse than coughing, sneezing, watery⁸ eyes or a runny nose.

然而,他补充说效果会比咳嗽、打喷嚏、流眼水或流鼻涕更严重。

“Those are the symptoms that people most note. But we’re also seeing that individuals who may already have a pre-existing respiratory condition or even a cardiovascular condition are also being affected⁹ by these. Some of these conditions might simply be an exacerbation¹⁰ of an asthmatic condition. Or some issues where particles are actually producing cardiovascular complications in the form of arrhythmias among individuals or irregular heartbeat. Or changes that may actually lead to stroke or myocardial infarction,” he said.

“这些是人们最注意的症状。但我们也看到那些已经有呼吸病症甚至心血管病症的人也受到这些影响。这些条件可能因简单的气喘症状而加剧。或者是一些产生实际心血管并发症的颗粒导致个人心律失常或不规则心跳。而气候变化甚至可以导致中风和心肌梗塞。”他说道。

Myocardial infarction is commonly known as a heart attack.

心肌梗死通常被认为是心脏病发作。

Pinkerton is a professor of pediatrics at the University of California Davis School of Medicine. He calls on the World Health Organization, governments and others to approve public health measures to protect vulnerable populations. These include infants, children and the elderly.

平克顿是加州大学戴维斯医学院的儿科教授。他呼吁世界卫生组织、政府和其他相关部门准许公共卫生措施,保护脆弱的人群。这些人群包括婴儿、儿童和老人。

Illnesses on the move

“We’re now beginning to see some infections and some vector borne diseases in different areas of the world that we’ve never seen before. For example, diseases that have commonly been found within the Mediterranean¹¹ are now being seen as far north as the Scandinavian countries. We’ve also seen some issues about mold that typically was only found within Mexico and Central America that are now as far north as British Columbia in Canada,” he said.

“我们已经在世界上以前从未见过的不同的地区开始看到一些感染疾病和媒介传播疾病。例如,一般都在地中海被发现的疾病现在在北方遥远的北欧国家出现。我们也看到了一些只是在墨西哥和中美洲发现的典型成型病症现在在北至加拿大的不列颠哥伦比亚省出现。”他说道。

The study on climate change and health was written by a 10 member committee, including members from Africa, Europe, Asia, India, the Middle East and the United States. It appears in the Proceedings¹² of the American Thoracic Society.

这项气候变化及健康研究由10个委员会成员合著,成员来自非洲,欧洲,亚洲,印度、中东和美国等。它刊登在《美国胸科学会论文集》上。

1 asthma   

n.气喘病，哮喘病

参考例句：

• I think he's having an asthma attack.我想他现在是哮喘病发作了。
• Its presence in allergic asthma is well known.它在过敏性气喘中的存在是大家很熟悉的。

2 allergies   

n.[医]过敏症；[口]厌恶，反感；（对食物、花粉、虫咬等的）过敏症( allergy的名词复数 )；变态反应，变应性

参考例句：

• Food allergies can result in an enormous variety of different symptoms. 食物过敏会引发很多不同的症状。 来自辞典例句
• Let us, however, examine one of the most common allergies; hayfever. 现在让我们来看看最常见的变态反应的一种--枯草热。 来自辞典例句

3 adversely   

ad.有害地

参考例句：

• We commented adversely upon the imbecility of that message of telegraphic style. 我们对着这条电报式的愚蠢的留言发泄了一通不满。
• Widely fluctuating exchange rates may adversely affect international trade. 浮动幅度很大的汇率可能会对国际贸易产生有害的影响。

4 ozone   

n.臭氧，新鲜空气

参考例句：

• The ozone layer is a protective layer around the planet Earth.臭氧层是地球的保护层。
• The capacity of ozone can adjust according of requirement.臭氧的产量可根据需要或调节。

5 soot   

n.煤烟，烟尘；vt.熏以煤烟

参考例句：

• Soot is the product of the imperfect combustion of fuel.煤烟是燃料不完全燃烧的产物。
• The chimney was choked with soot.烟囱被煤灰堵塞了。

6 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。

7 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

8 watery   

adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的

参考例句：

• In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。
• Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

9 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。

10 exacerbation   

n.恶化，激怒，增剧；转剧

参考例句：

• Bleeding may be herralded by several day of exacerbation of pain. 数天的疼痛加剧可能为出血的先兆。 来自辞典例句
• For several days, he has had an exacerbation of ulcer symptoms. 近日他溃疡病症状加剧。 来自辞典例句

11 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

12 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼