三手烟是指吸烟后残留在衣物、家具、头发和皮肤等表面的固体残留物,其污染持续时间可达数年,会通过呼吸道、消化道吸收及皮肤接触等方式危害人类。
美国加利福尼亚大学里弗赛德分校的一项研究显示,三手烟可能损伤人类的大脑和肝脏,影响行为举止,增加患神经系统退行性疾病的风险,破坏新陈代谢。研究人员发现,人在三手烟中暴露一个月会出现明显的健康问题。
Third-hand smoke exposure can cripple your brain and liver, affecting your mannerisms, increasing your risk of neurodegenerative diseases, and ruining your metabolism. That is according to a study by researchers at the University of California, Riverside who saw significant health issues in people within a month of exposure to smoke.
该研究小组分析了从他人衣物、头发、房屋或汽车中吸入三手烟对人体产生的影响。
The research team analyzed how people were affected by inhaling smoke from another person's clothing, hair, home, or car.
这些科学家们此前对老鼠进行的研究发现,三手烟可以引发2型糖尿病、多动症、肝肺损伤以及伤口愈合并发症。现在,他们证明了三手烟甚至会对大脑和肝脏组织产生影响。
In previous studies on mice, the same scientists showed third-hand smoke can cause type 2 diabetes, hyperactivity, liver and lung damage, and wound-healing complications. Now, they have shown they can even see an impact on brain and liver tissues.
该研究论文的第一作者曼纽拉•马丁斯-格林称:“我们模拟了人类接触三手烟的环境,让小鼠暴露在其中,以确定导致小鼠发生生理变化所需的最短三手烟接触时间。”
'Our goal was to determine the minimum amount of time required to cause physiological changes in mice when they are exposed to THS (third-hand smoke), using an exposure system that mimics human exposure,' said lead author Manuela Martins-Green.
“我们发现,接触三手烟1个月就会造成肝脏损伤,2个月时,出现更多分子损伤;等到4至6个月时,损伤进一步加剧。我们还发现,长期暴露在三手烟中小鼠会出现胰岛素抵抗。”
'We found that THS exposure as early as one month resulted in liver damage. THS exposure for two months resulted in further molecular damage, and at four to six months caused even more such damage. We also found that the mice showed insulin resistance after long-term THS exposure.'
肝脏受损会影响其解毒能力,致使身体遭受更多三手烟毒害。
Damage to the liver can hinder its capability to detoxify the body, leading to more damage by THS toxins.
马丁斯-格林及其团队检测了小鼠的大脑,发现接触三手烟1个月后,小鼠的肾上腺素等应激激素水平上升。
Martins-Green and her team examined the brains of THS-exposed mice and found that stress hormones, such as epinephrine, increased in one month of exposure.
随着接触三手烟的时间增加至2个月、4个月、6个月,小鼠的应激激素水平持续升高,最终产生免疫疲劳。
Additional stress hormones are seen at two months, four months, and six months, eventually causing immune fatigue in the mice.
马丁斯-格林表示:“三手烟是一种隐形毒物、无声的杀手。”
'THS is a stealth toxin, a silent killer,' Martins-Green said.
“污染物可以通过皮肤接触或呼吸被人体吸收。虽然我们没有对人类进行研究,但是人们应该意识到,吸烟者所在的宾馆房间、汽车以及房屋被三手烟污染的可能性很大。”
'Contaminants can be absorbed through the skin and through breathing. Although our research was not done on humans, people should be aware that hotel rooms, cars, and homes that were occupied by smokers are very likely to be contaminated with THS.'
三手烟无形但是有气味,可以在物体表面残存多年,且甚至连强效清洁剂也无法去除。
THS toxins, which are invisible but can be smelled, remain on surfaces for many years, and are resistant to even strong cleaning agents.
此外,污染物与周围空气反应后会不断积累和老化,并转化为致癌化学物质。
Further, they accumulate and age by reacting with the ambient air, and change into carcinogenic chemicals.
由于三手烟能被皮肤吸收,儿童尤其容易受到伤害,因为他们与物体表面的接触更频繁。
Because THS is absorbed through skin, children are especially vulnerable given their close contact with household surfaces.
儿童往往会通过把手放进嘴里而摄入这些有毒物质,也会通过皮肤吸收。
Children frequently ingest these toxins by putting their hands in their mouths. They also absorb them through the skin.
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