Earth and Sky:Estrogen Mimics 雌性激素

Estrogen Mimics¹ 雌性激素

It may not surprise you that pollution from chemical plants and farms can harm fish. But there's growing evidence that we're all hurting fish and frogs by what we flush down the drain. Discover estrogen mimics -- today on Earth and Sky.

DB: This is Earth and Sky. In recent years, scientists have found dozens of human made chemicals in streams and rivers that may disrupt the reproductive systems of animals.

JB: Some of these chemicals act like the natural hormone² estrogen. So-called "estrogen mimics" are found in many compounds that have become common in modern life -- pharmaceuticals³, pesticides⁴ and industrial or residential⁵ waste.

Some enter the water in effluent from wastewater treatment plants. In some animals such as fish, frogs and birds -- and at certain levels -- these chemicals can cause males to become more like females, sperm⁶ counts to shrink, or eggs to become thinner. Some scientists also worry about possible effects on humans.

DB: A research team is studying the effects of estrogen mimics on fish in New York's Jamaica Bay . Effluent from a nearby sewage treatment plant contains these chemicals. Ann McElroy, Martin Schreibman and others are growing winter flounder in water with chemicals in varying amounts. They'll measure how the chemicals affect the fishes' hormone levels, size of certain organs and ability to reproduce. They'll compare fish in the lab to fish in Jamaica Bay and in natural sites that are relatively⁷ free from estrogen mimics.

JB: For more -- come to today's show at earthsky.org. Special thanks to New York Sea Grant -- bringing science to New York's marine⁸ and Great Lakes shores for over 30 years. We're Block and Byrd for Earth and Sky.

1 mimics   

n.模仿名人言行的娱乐演员，滑稽剧演员( mimic的名词复数 )；善于模仿的人或物v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的第三人称单数 )；酷似

参考例句：

• Methods:Models were generate by CT scan,Mimics software and Abaqus software. 方法：采用CT扫描，Mimics软件和Abaqus软件的CAD进行三维有限元模型的创建。 来自互联网
• Relaxing the mind and body mimics the effect that some blood-pressure pills would have. 放松身心会产生某些降压药才能产生的效果。 来自辞典例句

2 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

3 pharmaceuticals   

n.医药品；药物( pharmaceutical的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the development of new pharmaceuticals 新药的开发
• The companies are pouring trillions of yen into biotechnology research,especially for pharmaceuticals and new seeds. 这些公司将大量资金投入生物工艺学研究，尤其是药品和新种子方面。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

6 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。