英國八成青少年體內含雙酚A 或引發多種疾病

A plastics chemical linked to reduced fertility in men is in the majority of teenagers in the UK, research has found.

研究發現，英國大多數青少年體內都含有一種與男性生育能力下降有關的塑料化合物。

More than 80% of teenagers have traces of the chemical compound in their bodies, according to the study involving 94 young people aged between 17 and 19.

這項以94名年齡在17歲至19歲的年輕人作爲對象的研究稱，超過80%的青少年體內都發現了這種化合物。

The chemical known as Bisphenol A can be found in plastic containers and water bottles, till receipts, on the inside of cans and bottle tops and in plastic packaging and tubing, and has similarities to female sex hormone oestrogen.

這種化學物質被稱爲雙酚A，是一種類似於雌激素的物質。塑料容器、水瓶、打印收據、罐頭內壁以及瓶蓋，還有塑料包裝和吸管中都含有雙酚A。

Some previous research has suggested that it could be linked to decreased sperm counts and could affect the way some genes work, though the plastics industry says it is safe.

儘管塑料行業認爲雙酚A是安全的，但此前的一些研究表明，它可能會導致精子數量減少，並可能影響某些基因的工作方式。

Participants in the study, students at Devon schools, tried to limit their contact with the chemical for a week through avoiding plastic packaging which contains BPA, switching to stainless steel and glass food and drink storage containers, and avoiding tinned food.

該研究的參與者都是在英國德文郡讀書的學生，他們在一週的時間裏儘量避免接觸雙酚A，不使用含雙酚A的塑料包裝，改用不鏽鋼和玻璃材質的容器盛放食物和飲品，不吃罐頭食品。

The chemical has a relatively short half-life of six hours and passes out of the body quickly, but 86 percent of students had traces in their bodies, with an average level of 1.9ng/ml, similar to levels recorded in other countries around the world.

雙酚A的半衰期爲6小時，相對較短，並能快速排出體外。但86%的學生體內還能檢測到該化學物質，平均含量是1.9納克/毫升，這一數字與全球其他國家記錄的數據接近。

Overall they did not see a drop in their recorded levels, though some of those with the highest levels at the start of the study did experience some reduction.

總體而言，研究人員記錄到的雙酚A含量並沒有下降，但一些研究初始體內雙酚A含量最高的研究對象體內含量確實有所下降。

They also reported that it was difficult to avoid the chemical, because of unclear and inconsistent labeling and the difficulty of sourcing and identifying food which was free of it.

他們還指出，這種化學物質是很難避免的，因爲對雙酚A的標註不明確且不一致，也很難鑑別哪些包裝材料是不含雙酚A的。

Tamara Galloway, Professor of Ecotoxicology at the University of Exeter, said: "There is growing evidence that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may be associated with adverse health outcomes. Measurable levels of BPA were present in the vast majority of our participants."

埃克塞特大學生態毒理學教授塔瑪拉·加羅韋稱：“越來越多的證據表明，接觸內分泌干擾素可能對健康有害，絕大多數的研究對象體內都出現了含量可以檢測到的雙酚A。”

Lorna Harries, associate professor in molecular genetics at the University of Exeter, added: "In an ideal world, we would have a choice over what we put into our bodies. At the present time, since it is difficult to identify which foods and packaging contain BPA, it is not possible to make that choice."

埃克塞特大學分子遺傳學副教授洛娜·哈瑞斯稱：“只有在理想情況下，我們才能選擇身體所攝入的物質。目前，由於難以確定哪些食品和包裝含有雙酚A，所以要做選擇是不可能的。”