为什么你的阴茎在缩水：英语精读讲义

Penis sizes are shrinking, which you might have seen from these headlines all over the internet.

阴茎尺寸正在变小，你可能已经在网上铺天盖地的标题中看到过这件事。

And in the last 40 years, sperm counts in men have decreased by 50% 語法

而在过去40年里，男性的精子数量下降了50%。

and the distance between the anus and the genitals in boys, aka the taint, 用詞

男孩肛门与生殖器之间的距离，也就是所谓的会阴长度，

has been shrinking.

也一直在缩短。

So today, we are going to explain what is going on. 短語動詞

所以今天，我们就来解释一下究竟发生了什么。

Testosterone levels in men have been declining since 1982.

自1982年以来，男性的睾酮水平一直在下降。

A meta-analysis of over 185 studies that looked at over 48,000 men 用詞

一项荟萃分析汇总了185多项研究，涉及4.8万多名男性，

found that between the years of 1973 and 2011,

发现从1973年到2011年，

male sperm concentration had decreased by 52%

男性精子浓度下降了52%，

and overall sperm count had decreased by 59%.

精子总数则下降了59%。

26% of men who have erectile dysfunction are now under the age of 40.

如今，在勃起功能障碍的男性中，有26%还不到40岁。

Looking at sperm bank semen in 1963,

以1963年精子库中的精液样本为例，

1 teaspoon of sperm,

一茶匙精液，

which is your average ejaculation,

也就是男性平均一次射精的量，

would have had 99 million viable sperm per milliliter.

其中每毫升原本含有9900万个有活力的精子。

By 2011, it had fallen all the way to only 49 million viable sperm. 語法

到2011年，这个数字一路跌到只剩4900万个。

And the decrease in the sperm count,

而精子总数、

sperm concentration,

精子浓度

and viable sperm is why now

以及有活力精子数量的下降，正是如今

male fertility issues contribute 1/4 to 1/3 of all fertility issues.

男性生育问题占所有生育问题四分之一到三分之一的原因。

And now we are starting to understand,

而现在，我们开始明白——

finally,

终于——

why this is happening.

这一切为什么会发生。

It comes down to plastics, pesticides, 短語動詞

归根结底，问题出在塑料、农药，

and the chemicals in the products that we are using every day.

以及我们每天使用的产品所含的化学物质上。

Plastics, pesticides, and chemicals in our products contain EDCs, 用詞

塑料、农药和日常用品中的化学物质都含有EDCs，

endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

也就是内分泌干扰化学物质。

These chemicals bind to hormone sites in our body

这些化学物质会与我们体内的激素受体结合，

and fool our bodies into thinking they're the natural hormone. 語法

骗过身体，让身体误以为它们是天然激素。

Hormones are signaling molecules in your body

激素是你体内负责传递信号的分子，

that are a part of your amazing endocrine system.

它们是你奇妙的内分泌系统的一部分。

The endocrine system consists of these glands in your body

内分泌系统由你体内的这些腺体组成，

that secrete hormones

这些腺体会分泌激素，

in order for your organs and your tissues to essentially communicate. 語法

从而让你的器官和组织能够相互沟通。

For example, when stressed, 語法

例如，当你感到压力时，

your brain will signal your pituitary gland to release ACTH.

大脑会向垂体发出信号，让它释放ACTH。

And this pituitary gland is in your brain.

而垂体就位于你的大脑中。

No, it is not your testicles,

不，它不是你的睾丸，

even though it looks like it.

尽管它看起来确实很像。

The ACTH enters the blood,

ACTH会进入血液，

where it then makes its way to your adrenal gland. 短語搭配

然后随血液到达肾上腺。

Now, the adrenal gland secretes cortisol,

接着，肾上腺会分泌皮质醇，

another hormone that enters the bloodstream,

这是另一种会进入血液的激素，

and then increases glucose within your body

随后会提高你体内的葡萄糖水平，

to help you deal with that stress.

帮助你应对压力。

This is just one example of endocrine biological signaling processes,

这只是内分泌生物信号传导过程中的一个例子，

but there are many more that control how you breathe,

但还有许多其他过程会控制你如何呼吸、

how your digestion works,

消化系统如何运作，

and even the sensory you feel when you touch a wall.

甚至包括你触摸墙壁时产生的感觉。

Back to the endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs. 表達脈絡

回到内分泌干扰化学物质，也就是EDCs。

They can also control how our natural hormones are broken down and stored. 短語動詞

它们还会控制我们体内天然激素的分解和储存方式。

And they also change our body's sensitivity to the real hormones.

它们也会改变身体对真正激素的敏感度。

So let's start with the endocrine-disrupting chemicals,

我们先来看看一种内分泌干扰化学物质——

phthalates.

邻苯二甲酸酯。

These chemicals are in plastics,

塑料中含有这类化学物质，

cuz they make them soft and flexible. 語法

因为它们能让塑料变得柔软有弹性。

They're also in floor coverings and soap and hair spray.

地板覆盖材料、肥皂和定型喷雾中也含有它们。

One study of 72 common household objects found phthalates

一项针对72种常见家居用品的研究发现，邻苯二甲酸酯

in three quarters of the products, such as deodorant

存在于其中四分之三的产品中，比如除臭剂、

and hair gels and fragrances.

发胶和香氛产品。

So in rats, if the expectant mother is exposed to phthalates

所以在大鼠实验中，如果怀孕的母鼠接触到邻苯二甲酸酯，

18 to 21 days after mating,

时间是在交配后的第18至21天，

the male pups will have a decrease in testosterone.

雄性幼鼠的睾酮水平就会下降。

In humans, if an expectant mother is exposed to phthalates 短語搭配

对人类来说，如果孕妇接触到邻苯二甲酸酯，

between week 8 to 12 of the embryo's development,

时间是在胚胎发育的第8至12周，

it can disrupt testosterone and lead to boys coming out

就可能干扰睾酮，使男婴出生时

with a decreased penis size,

阴茎尺寸较小、

lower sperm counts, and a smaller AGD,

精子数量较少，AGD也较短，

a smaller taint.

也就是会阴长度较短。

Now, let's look at the BPA,

现在，我们再来看看BPA，

which you may have heard a lot about.

你可能经常听说它。

It can be found in nonstick coatings,

它存在于不粘涂层、

in lots of different plastics,

许多不同种类的塑料、

in electronics,

电子产品

and also in receipt paper.

以及收据纸中。

Men working at factories with high levels of BPA 語法

在BPA浓度较高的工厂里工作的男性

had their urine examined. 語法

接受了尿液检测。

It turned out that increased levels of BPA in their urine 表達脈絡

结果显示，他们尿液中的BPA水平升高，

led to four times lower sperm counts,

会让精子数量降至原来的四分之一，

three times lower sperm vitality,

精子活力降至原来的三分之一，

and decreased sperm mobility.

精子的运动能力也会下降。

Sons of men with high BPA exposure had decreased AGDs

BPA暴露水平较高的男性，其儿子的AGD更短，

and were more likely to have ejaculation issues

也更容易出现射精问题

and decreased sexual desire.

和性欲下降。

And there are a lot of other chemicals that disrupt endocrine hormones,

还有许多其他化学物质也会干扰内分泌系统中的激素，

from those in plastic toys and air fresheners,

比如塑料玩具和空气清新剂中的化学物质，

nail polish, pesticides,

还有指甲油和农药中的化学物质，

to the grease and stain repellents in fast food containers,

以及快餐容器里的防油防污剂，

and the dioxins found in meat and dairy,

和肉类与乳制品中的二噁英。

all of which have an impact on sperm count,

它们都会影响精子数量、

taint size, or penis length.

会阴长度或阴茎长度。

It's not just EDCs in plastics and pesticides that are decreasing male fertility, 語法

降低男性生育能力的不只是塑料和农药中的EDCs，

it's also other things that we are just doing to our bodies.

还有我们平时对自己身体做的其他事情。

Smoking cigarettes or even just exposure to secondhand smoke 用詞

吸烟，甚至只是吸入二手烟，

can actually cause damage to our sperm.

其实都会损害我们的精子。

It can decrease our testosterone

这会降低我们的睾酮水平，

and decrease our ability for the little guys to make its way to the egg. 習語

也会削弱这些小家伙游到卵子那里的能力。

And right now,

而目前，

men smoke five times as much as women, 語法

男性的吸烟量是女性的五倍，

which is causing a decrease in male fertility.

这也导致男性生育能力下降。

And it's not just cigarettes, sadly.

可惜，问题并不只是香烟。

Also, those marijuana smokers, like me,

此外，像我一样吸食大麻的人

also have to look out because a 2015 study in Denmark

也得当心，因为丹麦2015年的一项研究

found that smoking marijuana more than once a week

发现，每周吸食大麻超过一次，

led to a 29% decrease in sperm count.

会让精子数量下降29%。

Also, curing meat with nitrites and nitrates 用詞

另外，腌制肉类时使用的亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐，

and the chlorinated pollutants that can be found in animal meat and dairy

以及肉类和乳制品中可能存在的含氯污染物，

can damage your sperm's DNA.

都会损伤精子的DNA。

Men who eat more processed meat have a decreased sperm count

吃较多加工肉类的男性，精子数量会更少，

and decreased normally shaped semen

形态正常的精子也会更少，

and this could be caused by the endocrine issues

这可能是由内分泌问题造成的，

that these chemicals in these meats have.

而问题就来自这些肉类中的化学物质。

One thing is becoming extremely clear,

有一件事正变得无比清楚：

which is that the chemicals we are now using in our modern world

我们如今在现代社会使用的这些化学物质，

are creating a decrease in male fertility.

正在导致男性生育能力下降。

So much so that a variety of studies have found 表達脈絡

影响如此严重，以至于多项研究发现，

a 1% decrease in testosterone in men per year since 1982.

自1982年以来，男性睾酮水平每年下降1%。

As for what you can do right now at home, 表達脈絡

至于你现在在家就能采取哪些行动，

you can eat less meat and dairy.

你可以少吃肉类和乳制品。

You cannot heat up things in plastic containers, 短語動詞

不要用塑料容器加热食物，

cuz that can actually have the chemicals seep into your food.

因为这样确实可能让化学物质渗入食物中。

You can eat less takeout and fast food,

你也可以少吃外卖和快餐，

as the actual packaging can be an issue in those cases,

因为在这些情况下，包装本身可能就是问题所在，

as well as the gloves that fast food workers

快餐店员工在准备食物时

wear while they're preparing your food.

戴的手套也可能有问题。

One study found that teenagers who ate out more 短語動詞

一项研究发现，经常在外面吃饭的青少年

had a 55% increase in some of these EDCs

体内某些EDCs的含量高出55%，

compared to teenagers who solely ate at home.

这是与只在家吃饭的青少年相比。

If you do use a nonstick

如果你确实要用不粘材质的

pan, keeping the heat low and for shorter periods of time.

锅，请保持低温，并缩短加热时间。

And if you ever see any sort of flaking on them,

如果发现涂层有任何剥落，

get rid of them. 短語動詞

就把锅扔掉。

Phthalates can leach into food in processing practices 用詞

在食品加工过程中，邻苯二甲酸酯可能渗入食物，

and in food packaging.

食品包装也可能让它们渗入食物。

So eating less processed food

因此，少吃加工食品，

or food with less packaging can also help.

或选择包装更少的食品，也会有所帮助。

We need to regulate corporations

我们必须加强对企业的监管，

so that they can't just use these chemicals on us.

不能任由它们把这些化学物质用在我们身上。

Right now,

眼下，

corporations can experiment with our bodies.

企业可以拿我们的身体做实验。

The way that this regulation works

这种监管机制的运作逻辑，

is kind of innocent until proven guilty. 習語

有点像“未经证明有罪，就先视为无罪”。

So only when we start to realize the detrimental effects of these chemicals, 語法

所以，只有当我们开始意识到这些化学物质的危害时，

do we then start to regulate them.

才会着手监管它们。

We need to change that order.

我们需要把这个顺序颠倒过来。

You may have seen this tweet from Greta Thunberg.

你可能见过格蕾塔·通贝里发的这条推文。

I think it's rather smart and funny,

我觉得它相当机智，也很好笑，

and we will see you at the next climate march.

我们下次气候游行见。

We need to hit the streets and hold our governments 講解

我们必须走上街头，要求政府

and our corporations accountable

和企业承担责任，

when it comes to regulating these chemicals out of our bodies. 短語搭配

通过监管让这些化学物质远离我们的身体。

They need to keep us safe.

它们需要保障我们的安全。

They need to help us lead healthier lives.

它们需要帮助我们过上更健康的生活。

And we didn't even really know the effects

而我们以前甚至根本不知道

that these chemicals were going to have on us.

这些化学物质会给我们带来什么影响。

And now that we do, 語法

既然现在知道了，

we need to figure out how to get them out. 短語動詞

我们就得想办法把它们从体内清除出去。

This is really important so that we can keep all of our...

这真的非常重要，只有这样，我们才能保住我们所有的……

If you want to learn more,

如果你想了解更多，

grab the book Countdown by Shanna Swan.

就去读读Shanna Swan的《Countdown》吧。

She's sort of ringing the alarm

她可以说是在为

on all of these issues.

所有这些问题敲响警钟。

I am just helping her try

我只是在帮她

and get this information out there. 短語動詞

把这些信息传播出去。

The book is full of amazing resources

这本书里有许多很棒的资料，

and gives you a really great understanding

能让你非常清楚地了解

of what is going on here.

这里究竟发生了什么。

Thank you so much for watching,

非常感谢大家观看，

and we will see you next week

我们下周再见，

for a new science video.

到时会带来一期新的科学视频。

Peace.

拜拜。