8月7日午间英语新闻：土壤污染或导致黑巧克力存在重金属超标

>Organic and regular dark chocolate contaminated by lead and cadmium, study finds

 研究：土壤污染或导致黑巧克力存在重金属超标

Dark chocolate and similar cocoa products are contaminated with lead and cadmium, two neurotoxic metals that are linked to cancer, chronic disease, or reproductive and developmental issues, especially in children, a new study found.

一项新研究发现，黑巧克力和同类的可可产品受到铅和镉这两种神经毒性金属的污染。过量摄入这两种金属会引发癌症、慢性疾病或生殖和发育问题，对儿童尤其有害。

As natural elements in the Earth’s crust, lead, cadmium and other heavy metals are in the soil in which crops are grow  n and thus can’t be avoided. Some crop fields and regions, however, contain more toxic levels than others, partly due to the overuse of metal-containing fertilizers and ongoing industrial pollution.

作为地壳中的自然元素，铅、镉和其他重金属存在于农作物生长的土壤中，因此无法避免。然而，一些农田和地区由于持续的工业污染和过度使用含金属的肥料，其毒性水平比其他地区更高。

However, despite growing on land with fewer pesticides and other contaminants, organic versions of dark chocolate had some of the highest levels, according to the study published Wednesday in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition.

7月31日发表在《营养前沿》期刊上的研究指出，尽管有机黑巧克力产自农药和污染物较少的土壤，但是所含的几种重金属水平却是最高的。

Dark chocolate is known for being rich in plant nutrients called flavonoids, antioxidants and beneficial minerals and has been linked to improved cardiovascular health, cognitive performance and less chronic inflammation.

黑巧克力因富含植物营养素类黄酮、抗氧化剂和有益矿物质而闻名，并被证实能改善心血管健康、认知表现和减少慢性炎症。

The research team examined only pure dark chocolate products as they contain the highest amount of cacao, the raw, unprocessed part of the cacao bean. Candies or baking chocolates with other ingredients were eliminated. The study did not disclose the names or manufacturers of the tested products.

研究团队只检测了纯黑巧克力产品，因为它们的可可（即未加工的可可原豆）含量最高。含有其他成分的糖果或烘焙巧克力不在检测范围内。研究没有透露被检测产品的名称或制造商。

The new study analyzed 72 consumer cocoa products for levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic. Compared with prior studies, which have looked at heavy metals in chocolate during a snapshot of time, the latest study tested the products over an eight-year period, in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.

这项新研究分析了72种巧克力产品中的铅、镉和砷含量。过往的研究只在某一特定时间点检测了巧克力产品的重金属含量，而这项新研究分别在2014年、2016年、2018年和2020年对巧克力产品进行了检测，时间跨度长达8年。

Of the six dozen chocolate products tested over the course of the study, 43% exceeded the maximum allowable dose level for lead as established by California’s Proposition 65, while 35% exceeded the Prop 65 maximum allowable level for cadmium, researchers found. The study found no significant levels of arsenic.

研究人员发现，在研究过程中检测的72种巧克力产品中，有43%超过了美国加州65号提案规定的铅含量的上限值，有35%超过了该提案规定的镉含量的上限值。该研究没有在这些巧克力产品中发现砷含量超标的现象。

Over time, consuming low levels of cadmium can damage the kidneys. The Environmental Protection Agency calls the metal a probable human carcinogen.

长期摄入微量镉元素会对肾脏造成损伤。美国环保署将镉元素称为一种人类致癌物。

There is no safe level of lead, especially for children, according to the World Health Organization.

世界卫生组织表示，铅是没有安全摄入量的，尤其对儿童来说。

"In particular, lead can affect children’s brain development, resulting in reduced intelligence quotient (IQ), behavioural changes such as reduced attention span and increased antisocial behaviour, and reduced educational attainment,” WHO states on its website.

世界卫生组织在其官网上写道：“铅尤其会影响儿童的大脑发育，导致智商降低、行为改变，比如注意力下降和反社会行为增加，以及学习成绩退步。”

However, for healthy adults, risk analysis found little to worry about choosing to indulge in 1 ounce of dark chocolate now and again.

不过，风险分析发现，健康的成年人偶尔吃一点黑巧克力几乎没有什么可担心的。

重点词汇：

1、cadmium

英/ ˈkædmiəm /美/ ˈkædmiəm /

n.[化学]镉（元素符号 Cd）

2、pesticide

英/ ˈpestɪsaɪd /美/ ˈpestɪsaɪd /

n.[农药]农药；[农药]杀虫剂（pesticide 的复数）

3、cardiovascular

英/ ˌkɑːdiəʊˈvæskjələ(r) /美/ ˌkɑːrdioʊˈvæskjələr /

adj.心血管的；心脏强化运动的

4、arsenic

英/ ˈɑːsnɪk /美/ ˈɑːrsnɪk /

n.砷；砒霜adj.砷的；五价砷的 

>  Word of the day丨Research and Experimental Development (R&D) spending

每日一词丨研发经费投入 

State-owned enterprises supervised and administered by local governments in China reported a 10.4 percent rise in R&D spending that amounted to 249.57 billion yuan in the first half of 2024, according to the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

国务院国资委称，今年1月至6月，地方国资委监管企业研发经费投入2495.7亿元，同比增长10.4%。

【知识点】

R&D是英文Research and Experimental Development的缩写，中文译为“研究与试验发展”，简称“研发”。研究与试验发展（R&D）经费指统计年度内全社会实际用于基础研究、应用研究和试验发展的经费支出，包括实际用于研究与试验发展活动的人员劳务费、原材料费、固定资产购建费、管理费及其他费用支出。研究与试验发展（R&D）经费投入，简称研发经费投入。

研究与试验发展经费及其投入强度，是国际上广泛使用的、衡量一个国家或地区自主创新投入规模及水平的重要指标。随着创新驱动发展战略深入实施，研发经费及其投入强度已成为监测我国科技创新能力的核心指标，在宏观决策管理中发挥着越来越重要的作用。

据国务院国资委介绍，“十三五”期间中央企业研发投入年均增长14.5%，过去两年研发投入均超过万亿元，在航天、深海、能源、交通等领域取得了一批标志性成果，在关键材料、核心元器件等领域实现重大突破。

国务院国资委数据显示，各地国资委监管企业经营发展有序推进，1月至6月实现营业总收入19.2万亿元、利润总额8267.8亿元，完成固定资产投资2.9万亿元，存量资产有效盘活，重点领域风险防范有力有效；科技创新能力加快提升，研发经费投入2495.7亿元，同比增长10.4%。

【相关词汇】

科技前沿领域

the frontier fields of science and technology

科技创新

sci-tech innovation