VOA标准英语2012--Tobacco-Caused Deaths Projected to Increase Further

 

Tobacco-Caused Deaths Projected to Increase Further

Virtually all experts on tobacco use recognize it as the single most preventable cause of death worldwide. At the American Cancer Society, Nathan Grey focuses on global health issues.

"Each year, tobacco kills about six million people throughout the world, and by 2030, that's projected to grow to about eight million people," he said.

Grey was one of the authors of a report published in the British medical journal, The Lancet. The report projects cancer rates to rise by 75 percent worldwide in less than 20 years.

"It's staggering. Six million deaths every year. There's no reason for any one of those deaths," said Joanna Cohen, who heads the Institute for Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

Many of the projected cancer deaths are expected to impact developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. 

"Sub-Saharan Africa is the last geographic¹ region of the world that still has low smoking rates. It's the last place where we could potentially avoid an epidemic² of tobacco-related deaths," said Gray.

Gray points out that the tobacco companies see this region as a vast untapped market. He says the American Cancer Society and other organizations are working hard to address the issue.

"If we are not successful, we are going to see some of the very same tragic³ loss of life, death, disability, impact on the economies that we've seen with HIV/AIDS," he said.

Experts say there are a lot of things governments can do to help prevent tobacco- related cancers and other tobacco-related deaths.

"The most effective tobacco control strategy that we have to date is to raise cigarette excise⁴ taxes. If we increase the price of cigarettes, then people will be less likely to afford cigarettes and they'll stop smoking," said John Ayers, the lead author of another tobacco study.

Studies show that education campaigns, banning smoking in public places, banning tobacco advertising⁵, and sponsorship of popular events works. 

"When you think about other global pandemics such as AIDS, there's no corporate⁶ interest cheering on the AIDS virus, right? In tobacco, we've got huge corporate interests fighting every step of the way. So not only are we trying to address and addictive⁷ problem, we have a completely preventable pandemic," said Joanna Cohen of the Institute for Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health.

The challenge, experts say, is defeating the massive marketing⁸ efforts of tobacco companies.

1 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

2 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

3 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

4 excise   

n.(国产)货物税；vt.切除，删去

参考例句：

• I'll excise the patient's burnt areas.我去切除病人烧坏的部分。
• Jordan's free trade zone free of import duty,excise tax and all other taxes.约旦的自由贸易区免收进口税、国内货物税及其它一切税收。

5 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

6 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

7 addictive   

adj.(吸毒等)使成瘾的，成为习惯的

参考例句：

• The problem with video game is that they're addictive.电子游戏机的问题在于它们会使人上瘾。
• Cigarettes are highly addictive.香烟很容易使人上瘾。

8 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。