石油泄漏致尼日利亚的新生儿死亡率翻倍
时间：2018-12-08 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2017年(11月)
Nigeria Oil Spills Double Risk of Infant Mortality, Research Shows
Babies are much more likely to die in their first few weeks of life if their mothers live close to the site of an oil spill, according to new research. Scientists studied data on infant mortality and oil spills in Nigeria’s Niger Delta 1 region – and describe their results as ‘shocking’.
It’s estimated that 240,000 barrels of crude oil are spilled into the Niger Delta every year. The environmental effects are clear to see – waterways running thick with the choking, black liquid; suffocated 2 wildlife; dying mangroves. The effect on the people living in the delta is slowly coming to light.
The study by scientists at Switzerland’s University of Saint Gallen is shocking: babies born in the delta are twice as likely to die in the first month of life if their mothers were living close to an oil spill before they became pregnant. Roland Hodler is lead researcher.
“We looked at the birth histories of more than 2,500 Nigerian mothers," Holder 3 said. "And we compared siblings 4, some conceived before and some conceived after a nearby oil spill.”
The researchers compared geographical 5 data on 6,600 recent oil spills, with results from the 2013 national demographic and health survey.
Their results show that even spills that happened five years before conception doubled the chances of babies dying after birth. However, spills that happened during pregnancy 6 appeared to have little effect.
“We think the main reason is that some of the negative health effects are just building up over time," Holder said. "So, if you think about these negative health effects, these are due to skin contact with crude oil, or to drinking contaminated water or eating contaminated fish or crops. And also inhaling 7 smoke from fires.”
It’s thought unborn and newborn infants are more vulnerable as they haven’t built up natural defenses. The study suggests the effects of oil spills will be felt long into the future.
In 2015 the Anglo-Dutch oil giant Shell agreed to share the costs of the clean-up – an operation that the United Nations says will likely take 30 years. Critics say only a fraction of the money has been paid. Shell blames oil thieves for causing many of the spills.
The Nigerian government did not respond to requests for comment.
- He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
- The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。
- Many dogs have suffocated in hot cars. 许多狗在热烘烘的汽车里给闷死了。
- I nearly suffocated when the pipe of my breathing apparatus came adrift. 呼吸器上的管子脱落时，我差点给憋死。
- The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
- That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
- A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分
- The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
- These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。