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This is Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Cynthia Graber. This’ll just take a minute.

Bisphenol A. Also called BPA, it's used to make shatter-proof plastic known as polycarbonate, found in everything from water bottles to medical devices to the lining¹ of food packaging. As much as 2.7 million tons of plastics are manufactured each year with BPA. But it's also an endocrine disruptor posing a threat to fetuses² and young children. And it’s been linked to cancer and metabolic³ disorders⁴ leading to obesity⁵.

So how can plastics be properly disposed of to avoid releasing BPA into the environment? Some fungus⁶ may help. So say researchers publishing in the journal Biomacromolecules.

The scientists selected three fungi⁷ that are already used for environmental cleanup. They wanted to optimize⁸ conditions for the fungi to break down polycarbonate, so first they treated the plastic with ultraviolet light and heat. Untreated polycarbonate served as a control.

After 12 months, the untreated plastic hadn’t decomposed⁹ at all. But the fungi had munched¹⁰ through the treated plastic and used it all as an energy source. Even better, the BPA had been entirely¹¹ broken down as well. Tests of the sample found no BPA residue¹². That’s good news in the effort to mop up a persistant pollutant¹³.

Thanks for the minute for Scientific American's 60-Second Science. I'm Cynthia Graber.

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收听单词发音

1 lining
n.衬里，衬料
参考例句：
The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。 Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

2 fetuses
n.胎，胎儿( fetus的名词复数 )
参考例句：
DNA was extracted from fetuses at mid-gestation, about 10 days past conception. DNA从受孕大约10天后的中期妊娠胚胎中提取。来自互联网 Brucellosis is a disease that causes fetuses to abort in cattle. 普鲁士菌病是一种可以导致牲畜胎儿夭折的疾病。来自互联网

3 metabolic
adj.新陈代谢的
参考例句：
Impressive metabolic alternations have been undergone during embryogenesis.在胚胎发生期间经历了深刻的代谢变化。 A number of intoxicants are associated with metabolic acidosis.许多毒性物质可引起代谢性酸中毒。

4 disorders
n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调
参考例句：
Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。来自《简明英汉词典》 The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。来自《简明英汉词典》

5 obesity
n.肥胖，肥大
参考例句：
One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。 Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

6 fungus
n.真菌，真菌类植物
参考例句：
Mushrooms are a type of fungus.蘑菇是一种真菌。 This fungus can just be detected by the unaided eye.这种真菌只用肉眼就能检查出。

7 fungi
n.真菌，霉菌
参考例句：
Students practice to apply the study of genetics to multicellular plants and fungi.学生们练习把基因学应用到多细胞植物和真菌中。 The lawn was covered with fungi.草地上到处都是蘑菇。

8 optimize
v.使优化 [=optimise]
参考例句：
We should optimize the composition of the Standing Committees.优化人大常委会组成人员的结构。 We should optimize our import mix and focus on bringing in advanced technology and key equipment.优化进口结构，着重引进先进技术和关键设备。

9 decomposed
已分解的，已腐烂的
参考例句：
A liquid is decomposed when an electric current passes through it. 当电流通过时，液体就分解。 Water can be resolved [decomposed] into hydrogen and oxygen. 水可分解为氢和氧。

10 munched
v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She munched on an apple. 她在大口啃苹果。 The rabbit munched on the fresh carrots. 兔子咯吱咯吱地嚼着新鲜胡萝卜。来自辞典例句

11 entirely
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。 His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

12 residue
n.残余，剩余，残渣
参考例句：
Mary scraped the residue of food from the plates before putting them under water.玛丽在把盘子放入水之前先刮去上面的食物残渣。 Pesticide persistence beyond the critical period for control leads to residue problems.农药一旦超过控制的临界期，就会导致残留问题。

13 pollutant
n.污染物质，散布污染物质者
参考例句：
Coal itself is a heavy pollutant.煤本身就是一种严重的污染物。 Carbon dioxide may not be a typical air pollutant.二氧化碳可能不是一种典型的污染物。