VOA标准英语2010年-US Senator Warns of Canned Food Danger

Health study finds high levels of harmful chemical BPA

Zulima Palacio | Washington, DC 24 May 2010

A new study by a coalition¹ of environmental health groups found that 46 out of 50 cans of food tested positive for high levels of BPA, a chemical used as a protective coating in cans.

The California democrat² has introduced legislation that would ban BPA in all food and beverage³ containers.

High levels of chemical in cans

The move coincides with a new study by a coalition of environmental health groups that finds common canned foods can contain alarming levels of the chemical, which has been linked to health problems

"This BPA leaches⁴," says Feinstein. "It leaches into the food and the food goes into your stomach."

The new study, "No Silver Lining," found that 46 out of 50 cans of food tested positive for high levels of BPA. The chemical is used to prolong the shelf life of canned goods, and is considered safe by food industry supporters.

But Liz Hitchcock, director of the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, disagrees and is concerned about the impact of BPA on unborn children.

Health concerns

"Just by eating a reasonable amount of food from cans, a pregnant, 20-something woman can ingest BPA at the same levels as it has been shown to cause harm in lab studies," says Hitchcock.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 93 percent of Americans have BPA in their bodies. Besides canned goods, the chemical is also found in many plastics and baby products.

Nancy Buermeyer is with the Breast Cancer Fund.

"There is a great deal of concern not just for breast cancer, but for prostate cancer, diabetes⁵, obesity⁶, learning disabilities and other neurological issues."

The chemical, BPA, is also found in many plastics and baby products.

The study examined canned foods from 19 states and included canned fish, fruit, vegetables and soda⁷. Two years ago, Congress reviewed scientific studies warning about the use of BPA in clear plastic containers.  Six states have banned BPA in baby bottles and some products for children.

Opposing view

Feinstein expects to encounter plenty of resistance to her legislation to ban BPA in all food and beverage containers.

"There is going to be a struggle, there are powerful interests that don't want us to pass this bill," she says. "I would suspect they spend millions of dollars on lobbying to dissuade⁸ members from voting for this."

One of those interests - the Grocery Manufacturers Association - issued a statement that says BPA is safe and has been used for more than 30 years to improve the quality of foods and beverages⁹. It says the National Workgroup for Safe Markets' report offers no new science.

But the advocacy group says the food industry should stop the unnecessary use of toxic¹⁰ chemicals in food products. Instead, it
recommends greater use of fresh food and safer plastics.
 

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 beverage   

n.(水，酒等之外的)饮料

参考例句：

• The beverage is often colored with caramel.这种饮料常用焦糖染色。
• Beer is a beverage of the remotest time.啤酒是一种最古老的饮料。

4 leaches   

n.（将化学品、矿物质等）过滤( leach的名词复数 )；（液体）过滤，滤去

参考例句：

• People consume it when it leaches from plastic into baby formula, water or food in container. 当它被从塑料中经沥滤而入婴儿配方奶粉、水或罐装食品当中的时候，人们将其摄入。 来自互联网
• After this article uses is also the microwave pretreatment, leaches the method with the solution. 本文采用的也是微波预处理后用溶液浸取的方法。 来自互联网

5 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

6 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

7 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

8 dissuade   

v.劝阻，阻止

参考例句：

• You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好劝阻他别那样干。
• I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。

9 beverages   

n.饮料( beverage的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• laws governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 控制酒类销售的法规
• regulations governing the sale of alcoholic beverages 含酒精饮料的销售管理条例

10 toxic   

adj.有毒的，因中毒引起的

参考例句：

• The factory had accidentally released a quantity of toxic waste into the sea.这家工厂意外泄漏大量有毒废物到海中。
• There is a risk that toxic chemicals might be blasted into the atmosphere.爆炸后有毒化学物质可能会进入大气层。