VOA慢速英语20060131b

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Scientist Says Restricting Fish in Pregnancy¹ Diet Might Do HarmBy George Grow

Broadcast: Tuesday, January 31, 2006

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VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English. I'm Pat Bodnar.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Bob Doughty². This week on our show: A scientist says eating less fish during pregnancy may do more harm than good ...

VOICE ONE:

Studies say two new vaccines⁴ against rotavirus are safe and effective for young children ...

VOICE TWO:

And explaining the ancient Plague of Athens.

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VOICE ONE:

Two years ago, the United States government advised pregnant women to limit fish in their diet to three hundred forty grams a week. Women in some other countries get the same advice. The aim is to reduce the risk that mercury pollution in fish could harm the developing nervous system in children.

But now an American government researcher says women who follow this advice may be harming their children instead of protecting them. Joseph Hibbeln [pronounced HIH-beh-lin] is a medical doctor who works at the National Institutes of Health. He says the value to brain development from the omega-three fatty acids in fish oil outweighs⁵ the risk from mercury.




'My belly⁶ is not a chemical location' is the message of these pregnant women in Germany, protesting against industrial pollution. Yet a researcher suggests that the risk to fetuses⁷ from mercury in fish may be overstated.

On January seventeenth he spoke⁸ at a scientific meeting in London to report the findings of new research.

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Doctor Hibbeln and British scientists used information about thousands of British children. The information came from a health study known as the Children of the Nineties project, based at the University of Bristol. The research led by Doctor Hibbeln looked at the records of nine thousand pregnant women. The information included the amount of seafood⁹ their mothers ate while pregnant.

The researchers compared families that ate plenty of fish against those that ate less than three hundred forty grams per week. They also compared the development of the children at different ages.

They found important differences between the children of women who ate a lot of fish and the children of women who did not. The scientists based their observations on thirty-one different tests.

VOICE ONE:

These are some of the reported findings:

By around two years old, children whose mothers ate no fish had lower scores in tests for motor, communication and social skills. At the age of seven, they had more problems dealing¹⁰ with other children. And by eight they were more likely to do poorly on intelligence tests of language skills.

Mothers who had the most omega-three fatty acids in their diet had the children with the best fine-motor skills at age three-and-a-half.

Doctor Hibbeln has called some of the findings frightening.

He says those responsible for the health advisory¹¹ looked only at a study of the effects of eating whale meat with high mercury levels. He says they did not consider the risk of restricting the nutrients¹² that pregnant women can get from fish.

Doctor Hibbeln would not comment further on the study until the findings appear in a scientific publication. First, other scientists must read and approve the report. But he tells us that the Medical Research Council of Britain, the Wellcome Trust and the National Institutes of Health paid for the research.

VOICE TWO:

Nearly all fish contains some amount of mercury. Some kinds contain more than others. Mercury is a metallic¹³ element. It gets into the environment from the burning of coal and other fossil fuels. It also comes from the use of mercury in electronics and other products.

The advisory in two thousand four came jointly¹⁴ from the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. They said eating seafood is not a health concern for most people. But they had advice for young children and three groups of women. These are pregnant women, women who might become pregnant and those who breastfeed their babies.

The women and children were advised not to eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish because they contain high levels of mercury.

The agencies said five of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in mercury are shrimp¹⁵, canned light tuna, salmon¹⁶, pollock and catfish¹⁷. Albacore or white tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna.

The women and children were also told to be very careful about the safety of fish caught in local waterways.

VOICE ONE:

Omega-three fatty acids have been in the news for years. Research has shown that some may reduce the risk of heart attacks by reducing the risk of blockages¹⁹ in the blood system. Also, Doctor Hibbeln says countries with the highest rates of eating fish have lower rates of depression, and even lower rates of murder.

Walnuts²⁰ and seed oils also contain omega-threes. But many researchers say fish oil, or fish oil supplements, are the best way to get them.

There may be limits to the power of fish oil, though. Scientists have just reported that it does not appear to reduce the risk of cancer.

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VOICE TWO:

You are listening to SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English from Washington.

More than two thousand four hundred years ago, a sickness struck Athens. The disease is said to have killed up to one third of all Athenians, including their leader Pericles. The huge loss of life helped to change the balance of power between Athens and its enemy, Sparta, in the ancient world.




Historians say the sickness began in what is now Ethiopia. They say it passed through Egypt and Libya before it entered Greece. Knowledge of the disease has come mainly from the writings of the ancient Greek historian Thucydides, who survived it.

So what caused the fall of Athens? Among the diseases that have been suggested are anthrax, bubonic plague, measles²¹ and smallpox²². Now, a study based on genetic²³ testing says it was probably typhoid fever.

Greek researchers announced the results. The International Journal of Infectious Diseases published the findings online last week.

VOICE ONE:

Researchers from the University of Athens tested human remains²⁴ from an ancient burial place in the Greek capital. The researchers collected genetic material from teeth. They say tests found genetic evidence similar to that of the modern-day organism Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi.

Manolis Papagrigorakis led the University of Athens team. He says the findings throw light on one of the most debated mysteries in medical history.

Typhoid fever is a life-threatening disease that is common today in developing countries. Experts say there are more than twenty-one million cases each year.

VOICE TWO:

Typhoid can be spread by food or drink that has been handled by a person infected with the bacteria that causes it. Bacteria expelled in human waste can pollute water supplies. So water used for drinking or to wash food can also spread the infection.

Hand washing is important to reducing the spread of typhoid. And there are vaccines that can help prevent it.

People with typhoid fever usually develop a body temperature as high as forty degrees Celsius²⁵. But experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States say typhoid can usually be treated with antibiotics²⁶.

Some people recover but continue to carry the bacteria. These carriers can get sick again. And they may continue to infect others. Doctors can do tests to make sure the bacteria has left the body.

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VOICE ONE:

Another disease that is common in developing countries is rotavirus. Babies and young children around the world are affected²⁷ by this intestinal²⁸ condition. Yet rotavirus is a leading killer²⁹ of young children in the developing world. The severe diarrhea it causes can be deadly unless treated. Most of the estimated half-million deaths each year are in poor countries.

But major studies show that two new vaccines are safe and effective in preventing most cases of severe rotavirus in young children. The drug company GlaxoSmithKline makes one of the vaccines, called Rotarix. Merck makes the other one, called RotaTeq.

The New England Journal of Medicine published the studies, which were supported by the makers³⁰. Rotarix is already sold in some countries. RotaTeq is not yet for sale.

In nineteen ninety-nine, the drug company Wyeth removed a rotavirus vaccine³ from the American market. That drug was blamed for some cases of an intestinal blockage¹⁸. The studies of Rotarix and RotaTeq, however, say the two new vaccines did not show any increase in risk for that condition.

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VOICE TWO:

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS was written by George Grow and Jill Moss³¹. Cynthia Kirk was our producer. I'm Bob Doughty.

VOICE ONE:

And I'm Pat Bodnar. Internet users can read and listen to our programs at www.unsv.com. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

1 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

2 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

3 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

4 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

5 outweighs   

v.在重量上超过( outweigh的第三人称单数 )；在重要性或价值方面超过

参考例句：

• Her need to save money outweighs her desire to spend it on fun. 她省钱的需要比她花钱娱乐的愿望更重要。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Its clarity in algebraic and analytical operations far outweighs any drawbacks. 文化代数和解析运算中的清晰性远远胜过任何缺点。 来自辞典例句

6 belly   

n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛

参考例句：

• The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
• His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

7 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

8 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

9 seafood   

n.海产食品，海味，海鲜

参考例句：

• There's an excellent seafood restaurant near here.离这儿不远有家非常不错的海鲜馆。
• Shrimps are a popular type of seafood.小虾是比较普遍的一种海味。

10 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

11 advisory   

adj.劝告的，忠告的，顾问的，提供咨询

参考例句：

• I have worked in an advisory capacity with many hospitals.我曾在多家医院做过顾问工作。
• He was appointed to the advisory committee last month.他上个月获任命为顾问委员会委员。

12 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 metallic   

adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的

参考例句：

• A sharp metallic note coming from the outside frightened me.外面传来尖锐铿锵的声音吓了我一跳。
• He picked up a metallic ring last night.昨夜他捡了一个金属戒指。

14 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

15 shrimp   

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

• When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
• When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。

16 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

17 catfish   

n.鲶鱼

参考例句：

• Huge catfish are skinned and dressed by hand.用手剥去巨鲇的皮并剖洗干净。
• We gigged for catfish off the pier.我们在码头以鱼叉叉鲶鱼。

18 blockage   

n.障碍物；封锁

参考例句：

• The logical treatment is to remove this blockage.合理的治疗方法就是清除堵塞物。
• If the blockage worked,they could retreat with dignity.如果封锁发生作用，他们可以体面地撤退。

19 blockages   

n.堵塞物( blockage的名词复数 )；堵塞，阻塞

参考例句：

• The storms could increase the risks posed by river blockages. 暴风雨会增加因河道堵塞所造成的危险。 来自互联网
• An angiogram shows the location and severity of blockages in blood vessels. 冠状动脉造影能够显示血管内的阻塞位置以及阻塞的严重程度。 来自互联网

20 walnuts   

胡桃（树）( walnut的名词复数 )； 胡桃木

参考例句：

• Are there walnuts in this sauce? 这沙司里面有核桃吗？
• We ate eggs and bacon, pickled walnuts and cheese. 我们吃鸡蛋，火腿，腌胡桃仁和干酪。

21 measles   

n.麻疹，风疹，包虫病，痧子

参考例句：

• The doctor is quite definite about Tom having measles.医生十分肯定汤姆得了麻疹。
• The doctor told her to watch out for symptoms of measles.医生叫她注意麻疹出现的症状。

22 smallpox   

n.天花

参考例句：

• In 1742 he suffered a fatal attack of smallpox.1742年，他染上了致命的天花。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child?你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

23 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

24 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

25 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

26 antibiotics   

n.（用作复数）抗生素；（用作单数）抗生物质的研究；抗生素，抗菌素( antibiotic的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• the discovery of antibiotics in the 20th century 20世纪抗生素的发现
• The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics. 医生给我开了抗生素。

27 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。

28 intestinal   

adj.肠的；肠壁；肠道细菌

参考例句：

• A few other conditions are in high intestinal obstruction. 其它少数情况是高位肠梗阻。 来自辞典例句
• This complication has occasionally occurred following the use of intestinal antiseptics. 这种并发症偶而发生在使用肠道抗菌剂上。 来自辞典例句

29 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

30 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。