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27 天气变暖会引发多种疾病
DATE=5/25/01
TITLE=ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Effects of Climate Change in the United States BYLINE=Cynthia Kirk
（Start at 59" ）This is Bill White with the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.
Government researchers in the United States say climate change could have serious health effects for Americans. They say hot weather may cause more health problems, such as heat stroke. It also may increase （1）flooding and air pollution.
A team of scientists from Johns Hopkins University in (2) Baltimore, Maryland examined connections between climate, weather conditions and human health risks. The (3) Global Change Research Program of the Environmental Protection Agency organized the research. It is the first time that public health experts have examined the possible health effects of (4) worldwide climate change in the United States.
In recent years, the cities of Chicago, Illinois， Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and (5) Cincinnati, Ohio have had long periods of extreme heat. Hundreds of people became sick and died. Experts say many American cities are not prepared for severe heat. They say this problem will probably increase in the future.
Extreme weather events such as severe storms cause hundreds of deaths and injuries in the United States each year. Researchers say climate change could increase these events. They say rising temperatures will increase rainfall, cause sea levels to rise and increase floods and other severe weather events.
Experts say water and food supplies could become unsafe by increases in rainfall and flooding. Weather influences the transport of （6）bacteria.
Hotter weather is also expected to increase air pollution. As air heats up, it mixes with sunlight to produce （7）ozone smog. This pollution slows the growth of plants and trees. It can also damage human lungs.
Scientists say Americans will also be at greater risk of diseases such as （8）dengue, yellow fever and （9）malaria. These diseases are usually found in very warm climates. They are passed to humans by insects. They were once common in the United States. Scientists say Americans could be at risk again if disease-carrying insects move to other warm and wet climates. Scientists also say international travel can transport diseases to other countries.
The study calls for better efforts to protect the public health against the effects of air pollution, extreme heat, floods and other severe weather events.
This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.
注释：
(1) flooding[ 5flQdiN ]n.泛滥, 灌溉
(2) Baltimore[ 5bC:ltimC: ]n.巴尔的摩, 美国马里兰州的一城市
(3) global[ 5^lEubEl ]adj.球形的, 全球的
(4) worldwide[5w:ldwaId, -5waId]adj.全世界的
(5) Cincinnati[ 7sinsi5nAti ]辛辛那提[美国俄亥俄州西南部城市]
(6) bacteria[ bAk5tiEriE ]n.细菌
(7) ozone[ 5EuzEun, Eu5z- ]n.新鲜的空气, [化]臭氧
(8) dengue[ 5deN^ei ]n.[医] 登革热(一种热带传染病,骨关节及肌肉奇痛)
(9) malaria[ mE5lZEriE ]n.疟疾, 瘴气
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