有机磷农药与儿童多动症的联系

    This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
    这里是美国之音英语健康报道。

    A.D.H.D. is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Government estimates say three to seven percent of school-age children in the United States have it. Adults can also have it. People with A.D.H.D. have problems with paying attention, controlling their behavior and being overly active.
    A.D.H.D.是指注意力缺陷多动症(以下简称多动症)。据政府估计,美国3%到7%的学龄儿童患多动症,成年人也可能患这种病。多动症患者存在注意力不集中,自控能力差及表现过度活跃的问题。

    Now, a study has linked an increased risk of A.D.H.D. in children to exposure to some kinds of pesticides. The chemicals are known as organophosphate pesticides. They kill insects by attacking their nervous systems. Earlier studies have shown that some of the compounds cause hyperactivity and thinking deficits in laboratory animals.
    目前的一份研究将儿童患多动症风险增大的原因与接触某些农药联系起来。这种化学物质即有机磷农药,它们通过攻击昆虫的神经系统杀灭昆虫。此前的研究表明,一些化合物会导致实验室动物过度活跃及意识模糊。

    Researchers at the University of Montreal in Canada and Harvard University in Massachusetts did the study. It involved more than one thousand one hundred children between the ages of eight and fifteen. One hundred nineteen of them were identified as having A.D.H.D.
    加拿大的蒙特利尔大学和马萨诸塞州的哈佛大学的研究人员做了这项研究。研究对象包含1100多名8至15岁的儿童。其中119人被认定患有多动症。

    The researchers tested all the children for products that break down from organophosphates. Maryse Bouchard of the University of Montreal and Harvard lead the research team. She says, "The higher the level of pesticide residue in the urine, the higher the risk of A.D.H.D. in the children."
    研究人员对所有儿童进行了有机磷分解物检测。蒙特利尔大学和哈佛大学的Maryse Bouchard是研究小组负责人。她表示,“儿童尿液中农药残留物的含量越高,患多动症的风险越大。”

    The scientists reported that the risk of the disorder was almost double in children with high levels compared to those with no measurable level. They say exposure at levels common among children in the United States may increase the chances that a child will be diagnosed with A.D.H.D.
    科学家们指出,与尿液中未检测到农药残留的儿童相比,农药残留物含量高的儿童患多动症的风险是其两倍。他们表示,在美国儿童中,与农药的日常接触增加了他们被诊断患有多动症的可能性。

    Maryse Bouchard says the study found that exposure could play a part in behaviors such as inattention and hyperactivity. But she also says the study does not prove that the chemicals cause the disorder.
    Maryse Bouchard表示,研究发现与农药接触会影响到儿童的一些行为如注意力不集中和过度活跃。但是她也指出,研究不能证明农药会导致多动症。

    MARYSE BOUCHARD: "We can't affirm that exposure to pesticides is causing A.D.H.D. We would need a different type of study to say that."
    MARYSE BOUCHARD:“我们不能肯定接触农药会导致多动症。我们还需要进行不同类型的研究来证明这一点。”

    The researchers say forty organophosphate pesticides are registered with the United States government. The chemicals are used to protect fruits and vegetables. They are also used to poison insects in other places such as homes.
    研究人员称,40种含有机磷酸酯的农药已在美国政府登记注册。这些农药被用来保护水果和蔬菜。它们也可以用于在其他地方杀死害虫,比如家里。

    Lynn Goldman is an environmental health scientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health in Maryland. She notes that the use of pesticides, including organophosphates, is widespread in developing countries. Children come in contact with high levels of pesticides through farming.
    Lynn Goldman是美国马里兰州约翰霍普金斯大学公共卫生学院的环境健康专家。她指出,发展中国家普遍使用这种含有机磷的农药。儿童在耕作中会接触到高浓度农药。

    LYNN GOLDMAN: "And those kids have much more serious, much more severe neurological problems. So we do see evidence of effects in those populations globally."
    LYNN GOLDMAN:“那些孩子们有更严重的神经问题。因此,我们看到了全球范围内对这些人群影响的证据。”

    The study was published in the journal Pediatrics.
    这研究结果发表在《儿科》杂志上。