VOA标准英语2010年-Researchers Say Several Factors Contri

Scientists don't know what causes autism, but besides a genetic¹ predisposition, they are now focusing on environmental exposure, or a combination of the two.

A conference on autism is taking place in (the eastern state of) Pennsylvania. The aim is to help teachers and parents deal with  challenges faced by children with autism.  The disease affects a person's ability to communicate and interact but symptoms vary. New studies are challenging formerly² held beliefs that autism is passed down genetically³. Now some experts say a child's environment has to be taken into account.

Max is a 10-year old boy with autism.  Recently, his mother called on US lawmakers to allocate⁴ more funds to find the cause and a cure.

"As families of children with autism, we each struggle with the why. I do not believe we can come to simple conclusions when it comes to the cause and effects of such a complex disorder⁵ as autism," Mary Moen states.

Autism is a set of disorders⁶, along a wide spectrum⁷, that affects a person's ability to respond socially or form relationships. It is diagnosed more often in boys than girls.

Scientists don't know what causes it, but besides a genetic predisposition, they are now focusing on environmental exposure, or a combination of the two.

 

At the University of California at Davis, Dr. Isaac Pessah is researching the impact of the environment on brain development and autism. "We must identify which environmental exposures and combination of exposures are contributing to increased overall risk in the population," he says, "and identify the most susceptible⁸ groups."

Dr. Pessah says chemicals used commercially -- there are some 80,000 -- could affect a child's developing brain.

Paul Anastas of the US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] argues that improvements in diagnosing autism cannot be solely⁹ responsible for the dramatic increase in autism cases reported worldwide.  "We often get into this discussion about is this environment or is this genetics. When I think, there is a growing body of knowledge which says it is not one or the other. Our genetics cannot change this quickly in order to explain the increase in incidence," he said. "What we are saying is that it's likely an interaction of the environment and genetic susceptibility."

Heavy metals, such as lead, and products like insecticides have recently been linked to abormalities in newborns and attention deficits¹⁰ in toddlers.

Dr. Bruce Lanphear is at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. "There is emerging evidence that a whole host of new environmental chemicals, many of them routinely found in pregnant women and children - such as Bisphenol A, flame retardants, pesticides¹¹, phthialates, and airborne pollutants," he explains "are associated with intellectual deficits or behavioral problems."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control says a form of autism may affect one in every 150 American children.

Parents of children with autism say better services and resources for the children are essential. But most important is finding the cause of the disease so it can be prevented or cured.

 

1 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。

2 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

3 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

4 allocate   

vt.分配，分派；把…拨给；把…划归

参考例句：

• You must allocate the money carefully.你们必须谨慎地分配钱。
• They will allocate fund for housing.他们将拨出经费建房。

5 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

6 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》

7 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

8 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

9 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

10 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

11 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》