新奇事件簿 室内灰尘让我们更肥胖

Scientists say house dust could make us fat. They say that people should keep their house clean if they want to avoid putting on weight. The scientists are from Duke University in the USA. They did some research on how dust affects mice. The researchers collected dust samples from 11 different houses and put them in the cells of mice. Dust from nine of the houses made the mice fatter. The scientists said house dust changed the hormones¹ in the mice that create fat in their body. The scientists said that we breathe in and swallow small amounts of dust. Researcher Dr Heather Stapleton said: "Amounts of dust as low as three micrograms…caused measurable effects."

科学家表示，室内灰尘会让我们肥胖。他们说，如果想要避免增肥，人们必须保持房间整洁。这些科学家来自美国的杜克大学。他们研究了灰尘对老鼠的影响。这些研究人员收集了来自11个不同房间的灰尘，放在老鼠的地下室里。来自九个房间的灰尘让老鼠长胖了。科学家表示，房间灰尘会改变老鼠体内产生脂肪的荷尔蒙。科学家表示，我们会吸入和吞下少量的灰尘。研究人员Heather Stapleton表示：“低至3微克的灰尘都会造成可察觉的影响。”

The dust particles contained chemicals called EDCs. These can change or copy the body's hormones. EDCs are found in sofas and carpets to make them fire resistant². They are also added to some plastics, to make them bend more, and in cosmetics³, food packaging, and household cleaning products. The researchers said EDCs are everywhere in most houses. They say the chemicals can affect our health, and that children are at a higher risk. EDCs also cause other health risks including creating learning disabilities in children. Studies have also shown that EDCs can raise the risk of cancer and infertility⁴. The researchers said there was a "critical need" to assess things we make that can make us unhealthy.

灰尘颗粒中含有名为EDC的化学物质。这种化学物质可以改变或复制体内的荷尔蒙。沙发和地毯中含有EDC，有防火功效。还有一些塑料中也添加这种化学物质，让塑料更容易弯折。化妆品，食品包装和家居清洁用品中也有。研究人员表示，EDC在大部分房间中到处都是。他们说，化学物质会危害我们的健康，儿童的风险更高。EDC还会造成其他健康风险，包括导致儿童学习障碍。研究还显示，EDC还会增加癌症和不育的风险。研究人员表示，评估我们生产的导致不健康的产品迫在眉睫。

1 hormones   

n. 荷尔蒙，激素 名词hormone的复数形式

参考例句：

• 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。
• The adrenals produce a large per cent of a man's sex hormones. 肾上腺分泌人体的大部分性激素。

2 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。

3 cosmetics   

n.化妆品

参考例句：

• We sell a wide range of cosmetics at a very reasonable price. 我们以公道的价格出售各种化妆品。
• Cosmetics do not always cover up the deficiencies of nature. 化妆品未能掩饰天生的缺陷。

4 infertility   

n.不肥沃，不毛；不育

参考例句：

• It is the Geneva, Switzerland-based Biotech Company's second recombinant infertility drug. 它是瑞士生物技术公司在日内瓦的公司生产的第二种重组治疗不孕症的药。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术制药疫苗
• Endometritis is a cause of infertility. 子宫内膜炎是不育的原子。 来自辞典例句