VOA标准英语2012--Tests Show Levels of Arsenic in US Rice
时间:2019-01-13 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2012年(九月)
Tests Show Levels of Arsenic 1 in US Rice
Two hundred different types of rice and rice products tested by both the non-profit research group, Consumer Reports, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA], contained varying levels of different forms of arsenic. Michael Taylor is the Deputy Commissioner 2 for Foods at the FDA.
“Arsenic is a substance that nobody wants in food, but we are confident that at the levels that we are seeing, there is no immediate 3 safety concern. People should continue eating rice,” said Taylor.
The U.S. government has standards for the amount of arsenic allowed in water for human consumption, but not for food. Taylor says the FDA is mainly concerned with cumulative 4 lifetime exposure to arsenic.
“We don’ think, based on the preliminary information that we have, that we can recommend that consumers change their eating practices. Rice is an important staple 5 of the diet. It’s a nutritious 6, healthy food," said Taylor. "I think we would want to be sure we have much more information before we make decisions about recommending changes in eating patterns.”
The FDA says it will complete its comprehensive study of 1,200 rice samples by the end of 2012, and will determine then whether to issue additional recommendations. Consumer Reports is less cautious, however. Its study reviewed only 200 rice samples, but concludes that to be safe, people - especially infants - should limit rice consumption.
Ami Gadhia, with Consumer Reports, said there is a heightened focus on this issue.
“From a public health standpoint, there is great deal of concern about what babies are ingesting. Very often the first solid food that babies are given is rice cereal, and to see arsenic in that product is obviously a problem," said Gadhia. "We also saw levels in rice milk, and sometimes if children are allergic 7 to cow milk they are given rice milk.”
Consumer Reports and FDA officials agree the results in their separate studies are similar, but only the FDA can set national industry standards.
Arsenic, a known carcinogen, is a contaminant that comes in two forms: organic and inorganic 8. Organic arsenic occurs naturally in the soil and water. Inorganic arsenic comes mainly from commercial fertilizers and pesticides 9 used in agriculture.
“Many of those pesticides were banned many years ago. Unfortunately, those pesticides and the arsenic in them remain in the soil, and so it is still getting into the rice plants," said Gadhia.
Gadhia said the highest levels of arsenic were found in samples of rice from the south-central U.S. The lowest arsenic levels were in rice from California, India and Thailand.
For now, the FDA recommends that consumers continue eating a balanced diet that includes a variety of grains. Consumer Reports recommends not only that people moderate their intake 10 of rice, but also that they rinse 11 it well and cook it with plenty of water.
- The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
- He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。
- His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
- We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
- This drug has a cumulative effect.这种药有渐增的效力。
- The benefits from eating fish are cumulative.吃鱼的好处要长期才能显现。
- Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
- Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。
- Fresh vegetables are very nutritious.新鲜蔬菜富于营养。
- Hummingbirds have discovered that nectar and pollen are very nutritious.蜂鸟发现花蜜和花粉是很有营养的。
- Alice is allergic to the fur of cats.艾丽斯对猫的皮毛过敏。
- Many people are allergic to airborne pollutants such as pollen.许多人对空气传播的污染物过敏,比如花粉。
- The fundamentals of inorganic chemistry are very important.无机化学的基础很重要。
- This chemical plant recently bought a large quantity of inorganic salt.这家化工厂又买进了大量的无机盐。
- 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》
- Reduce your salt intake.减少盐的摄入量。
- There was a horrified intake of breath from every child.所有的孩子都害怕地倒抽了一口凉气。