传统香烟 vs 电子烟：英语精读讲义

Cigarettes and marijuana have been used for centuries,

香烟和大麻已经被人们使用了几个世纪，

but only recently has the process of vaporizing these substances become popular. 語法

但直到最近，将这些物质汽化的做法才开始流行起来。

So, what does science have to say about this technology? 表達脈絡

那么，科学界如何看待这项技术呢？

Is it actually better for you?

它真的对身体更好吗？

When smoking normally,

以普通方式吸烟时，

the heat from fire causes substances to change from a solid state to a vapor. 語法

火焰产生的热量会让物质从固态变成蒸气。

In cigarettes, this releases nicotine,

对香烟来说，这个过程会释放尼古丁，

which is absorbed into your bloodstream through the lungs,

尼古丁经由肺部进入血液，

causing increased heart rate, 語法

使心率加快、

constricted blood vessels,

血管收缩、

release of dopamine in the brain,

大脑释放多巴胺，

and feelings of alertness.

并让人感到清醒警觉。

But because nicotine is a stimulant,

但由于尼古丁是一种兴奋剂，

once it's no longer present, you crash and crave more, 講解

一旦它从体内消退，你就会突然萎靡，并渴望再来一些，

which ultimately leads to addiction in many people.

最终导致许多人上瘾。

In the case of marijuana,

至于大麻，

the active component THC is aerosolized and follows the same pathway into your body,

其活性成分 THC 会形成气溶胶，并通过相同路径进入体内，

but with different effects,

但产生的效果不同，

which we explain in our video Your Brain on Marijuana here.

我们在这部《大麻如何影响你的大脑》视频中对此做了解释。

Smoking only takes 6 seconds for the active compounds to reach your nervous system, 語法

吸烟时，活性化合物只需 6 秒就能到达神经系统，

unlike chewing tobacco or eating edible marijuana,

而嚼烟草或食用含大麻的食品则不同，

which takes much more time.

它们需要的时间长得多。

But you have to inhale smoke in the process.

但在这个过程中，你必须吸入烟雾。

This smoke consists of partially burnt particles, 短語搭配

这些烟雾由未完全燃烧的颗粒组成，

which creates tar in your body,

会在体内形成焦油，

has cancer-causing effects,

具有致癌作用、

blackens teeth,

熏黑牙齿，

and destroys taste buds.

并破坏味蕾。

This is where vaping comes in. 表達脈絡

这时，雾化吸入就派上用场了。

If you can heat the active components enough to become aerosolized 語法

如果能把活性成分加热到足以形成气溶胶，

without starting a combustion reaction with the other compounds, 語法

同时又不引发其他化合物的燃烧反应，

then you theoretically get fast effects without the damage of smoke inhalation.

理论上就能快速起效，同时避免吸入烟雾造成的伤害。

Vaping typically involves a glass or metal chamber,

雾化通常需要一个玻璃或金属腔室，

which has an electrical current passing through it. 語法

电流会从中通过。

This way, it can heat to a controlled temperature,

这样，腔室就能被加热到设定温度，

creating a vapor with minimal combustion, 表達脈絡

产生燃烧程度极低的蒸气，

meaning you inhale much less smoke.

也就是说，你吸入的烟雾会少得多。

For marijuana users,

对于大麻使用者来说，

vaporizers have become popular

雾化器已经越来越流行，

as the plant material can be heated to a specific temperature, 語法

因为它能把植物材料加热到特定温度，

usually between 185 to 210 degrees Celsius, 語法

通常是 185 至 210 摄氏度，

allowing just the THC-containing vapor to be extracted.

从而只提取出含 THC 的蒸气。

For e-cigarettes,

对于电子烟来说，

using a liquid solution instead of dried tobacco has become popular. 語法

使用液体溶液取代干烟草的方式已经流行起来。

This e-liquid contains water, nicotine, a base, and occasionally flavorings,

这种烟油含有水、尼古丁、基质，偶尔还会加入香料，

and vaporizes at a much lower temperature.

并能在低得多的温度下汽化。

But this is where things get tricky. 習語

但事情棘手之处就在这里。

The e-liquid contains a base similar to that used in cosmetics and food, 語法

烟油中的基质与化妆品和食品所用的基质相似，

which helps maintain moisture without creating sogginess.

有助于保持水分，同时避免变得湿软。

One common base called propylene glycol,

一种常见的基质叫作丙二醇，

which is used in theatrical smoke,

它也用于制造舞台烟雾，

is known to cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory infections. 語法

已知会刺激眼睛并引发呼吸道感染。

So, what's going to happen after prolonged inhalation in e-cigarettes?

那么，长期通过电子烟吸入这种物质会有什么后果？

Scientists are still studying these effects,

科学家仍在研究这些影响，

and even though in America the FDA has given the seal of approval, 講解

尽管美国 FDA 已经给予认可，

much is still unknown.

但仍有许多未知之处。

E-liquid can also differ greatly between manufacturers,

不同制造商生产的烟油也可能差异很大，

with barely any regulation for additives. 語法

而添加剂几乎不受监管。

Some have been found to contain diacetyl, 語法

有些烟油被发现含有双乙酰，

a chemical that is known to give butter its buttery taste.

这种化学物质能赋予黄油特有的黄油香味。

Inhalation of this chemical can lead to scarring in the lungs

吸入这种化学物质会导致肺部形成瘢痕，

known as popcorn lung, 文化背景

也就是所谓的“爆米花肺”，

named after hundreds of workers who inhaled the chemical 短語搭配

这个名称源于数百名工人的遭遇：他们曾吸入这种化学物质，

in a microwavable popcorn factory

当时他们在一家微波爆米花工厂工作，

and suffered irreversible lung damage.

并因此遭受了不可逆的肺损伤。

This is an example of how the lack of quality control in e-cigarettes 表達脈絡

这个例子说明，电子烟缺乏质量控制

should be a significant concern.

理应引起高度重视。

But current evidence does indicate that vaporizers administer nicotine 語法

不过，现有证据确实表明，雾化器可以输送尼古丁，

with far less adverse effects 語法

而带来的不良影响少得多，

due to decreased carcinogenic products and smoke inhalation.

因为致癌产物和烟雾吸入都减少了。

But less harmful does not mean safe. 表達脈絡

但危害较小并不代表安全。

E-cigarettes with added flavorings such as blueberry or grape

添加了蓝莓或葡萄等香味的电子烟

have been found to contain other harmful chemicals,

已被发现含有其他有害化学物质，

and secondhand smoke is still an issue.

而且二手烟雾仍然是个问题。

Exhaled particles from vaporizers known as ultrafine particles

使用雾化器时呼出的颗粒被称为超细颗粒，

are known to affect pulmonary health.

已知会影响肺部健康。

Others are worried that because these e-cigs are deemed healthier, 講解

还有人担心，由于这些电子烟被认为更健康，

that they're becoming more appealing for young people. 短語搭配

它们对年轻人的吸引力正变得更大。

A study reported that continued use of e-cigarettes

一项研究报告称，持续使用电子烟的比例

for teens in grades 6 to 12

在六至十二年级的青少年中

had increased from 6% to 20% over 3 years. 短語搭配

三年内从 6% 上升到了 20%。

On the other hand, much of the information we have 表達脈絡

另一方面，我们掌握的许多信息

on the adverse effects of smoking comes from long-term studies

都来自关于吸烟危害的长期研究，

with cancers appearing much later in life. 語法

而癌症往往要到人生后期才会出现。

Since vaporizer use is relatively new,

由于雾化器的使用相对较新，

we simply don't have the same access to longitudinal studies. 用詞

我们根本没有同样的纵向研究可供参考。

So, we'll wait to see what the future brings. 習語

所以，未来会怎样，我们只能拭目以待。

Special thanks to Audible for supporting this episode

特别感谢 Audible 对本期视频的支持，

and giving you a free audiobook at audible.com/asap.

也感谢它在 audible.com/asap 为你提供一本免费有声书。

This week, we wanted to recommend the book Elon Musk:

本周，我们想推荐《Elon Musk：

Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance,

Tesla、SpaceX 与追寻美好未来》，作者 Ashlee Vance。

which explores the full spectacle and arc of the genius's life, work, and vision.

这本书全景式地展现了这位天才的人生、事业与愿景轨迹。

You can get a free copy at audible.com/asap

你可以在 audible.com/asap 免费领取一本，

or any others of your choice from a massive selection.

也可以从海量书目中任选其他一本。

We love them as they're great when you're on the go. 習語

我们很喜欢有声书，因为出门在外时特别适合听。

Don't forget to ask your burning questions 習語

别忘了提出那些让你百思不解的问题，

and subscribe for more weekly science videos.

并订阅频道，每周观看更多科学视频。