你的手機會傷害你嗎？電磁污染：英語精讀講義

Electricity is all around us all the time.

電無處不在，隨時都在。

It makes our lives easier, safer, more fun, and most of us never think about it.

它讓我們的生活更輕鬆、更安全、更有趣，但我們大多數人從未想過它。

But is there such a thing as too much electricity? 文法

但是，有「電太多」這回事嗎？

Could the thing that is the foundation of the modern world 慣用語

那個作為現代世界基石的東西，

slowly be killing us?

會不會正在慢慢殺死我們？

Before we dive deeper, 表達脈絡

在我們深入探討之前，

let's try to understand what electricity is

讓我們先來了解什麼是電，

and how it affects us.

以及它是如何影響我們的。

Electricity is the movement of an electric charge.

電是電荷的運動。

This movement generates electric and magnetic fields

這種運動會產生電場和磁場，

that spread out through space and carry energy. 片語動詞

它們透過空間傳播並攜帶能量。

We call this phenomenon electromagnetic radiation.

我們把這種現象稱為電磁輻射。

Radiation is a word that makes people very nervous,

「輻射」這個詞讓人感到非常緊張，

but to radiate just means giving off, 片語動詞

但輻射僅僅意味著發射，

like when the radiator in your house gives off heat

就像你家裡的暖氣片會散發熱量，

in the form of infrared radiation. 片語搭配

以紅外輻射的形式。

Different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum correspond to different types of radiation, 片語搭配

電磁頻譜的不同部分對應著不同類型的輻射，

and many of them are perfectly harmless.

其中許多都是完全無害的。

Some of them can be dangerous, though.

不過，有些也可能是危險的。

Radiation with very short wavelengths,

波長極短的輻射，

like UV light, X-rays, and gamma rays,

比如紫外線、X射線和伽馬射線，

are strong enough to rip electrons out of their atoms, 文法

強大到足以把電子從原子中剝離出來，

which can cause burns and genetic damage.

這可能會導致燒傷和基因損傷。

This is what many people have in mind 片語搭配

這就是許多人腦海中所想的，

when they hear the term radiation.

當他們聽到輻射這個詞的時候。

The rest of the spectrum covers a large range of longer waves,

頻譜的其餘部分涵蓋了大範圍較長的波，

from visible light, infrared, microwaves,

從可見光、紅外線、微波，

to radio waves.

到無線電波。

This is the kind of radiation that's emitted

這就是那種被發射出來的輻射，

by all sorts of human technology,

由各種人類科技、

mobile phones, Wi-Fi routers,

手機、Wi-Fi路由器、

electric power lines, and household appliances.

電力線和家用電器所發射。

This radiation doesn't disrupt molecules in our body.

這種輻射不會破壞我們體內的分子。

However, some kinds of radiation can stimulate muscles and nerves,

然而，某些輻射可以刺激肌肉和神經，

and can also make the hair on your body vibrate,

還可以讓你身上的毛髮震動，

which can sometimes cause a tingly feeling

這有時會引起刺痛感，

above certain threshold values.

當超過特定的閾值時。

Other kinds are useful for making dinner.

其他種類的輻射則可用於做飯。

Microwaves push the water molecules in your food around,

微波推動你食物中的水分子運動，

which warms it up. 片語動詞

從而把它加熱。

This happens to us all the time.

這在我們身上也時常發生。

For example, the pleasant warmth you feel at the beach

比如，你在海灘上感受到的舒適的溫暖，

is your skin heating up from exposure

就是你的皮膚因暴露在

to electromagnetic infrared radiation from the sun.

太陽的電磁紅外輻射下而變熱。

We are surrounded by natural and generally harmless sources of electromagnetic radiation

我們周圍充滿了自然的、通常無害的電磁輻射源，

all the time, and always have been. 文法

一直都是如此，過去也總是這樣。

But since the Industrial Revolution, 文法

但自工業革命以來，

we have added a lot of it to our immediate environment.

我們在身邊的環境中增加了很多這種輻射。

The question of whether this is actually dangerous

這到底是否危險的問題，

first got public attention when a 1979 study 片語搭配

首次引起公眾關注是在1979年的一項研究，

linked leukemia to living near power lines. 片語搭配

該研究將白血病與住在電線附近聯繫起來。

This particular study was quickly discredited, though. 用詞

不過，這項特定研究很快就被推翻了。

The connection could not be explained,

這種聯繫無法被解釋，

and no direct causal link was confirmed. 片語搭配

也沒有直接的因果關係被證實。

But once this had been proposed, 文法

但是一旦這被提出來，

the idea persisted,

這個觀念就持續存在了，

and the thousands of studies about possible dangers

數以千計關於可能危險的研究

illustrate that it's still seen as a very real threat.

表明它仍被視為一個非常真實的威脅。

A lot of people claim to be sensitive 片語搭配

很多人聲稱自己對

to the radiation coming from our appliances and cell phones.

家電和手機發出的輻射很敏感。

They report symptoms like headaches, nausea,

他們報告了如頭痛、噁心、

skin reactions, burning eyes, or exhaustion.

皮膚反應、眼睛乾澀刺痛或疲勞等症狀。

But those are just effects reported on a day-to-day basis. 片語搭配

但這些只是人們日常報告的影響。

A few studies have found much more unsettling results,

一些研究發現了更令人不安的結果，

like possible connections between the side of the brain

比如大腦的某一側

which people use when they're on their phones

也就是人們打電話時使用的那一側，

and the appearance of brain tumors.

與腦腫瘤的出現之間可能存在聯繫。

The question that science is trying to answer

科學正在試圖回答的問題，

is not so much about the acute effects of irradiation. 表達脈絡

並不那麼關乎輻射的急性影響。

We know, for example,

例如，我們知道

that X-rays cause immediate damage to the DNA in your cells,

X射線會對你細胞內的DNA造成即時的破壞，

but that the same doesn't happen with radio waves.

但無線電波就不會發生同樣的情況。

The question is rather,

真正的問題是，

is the sort of weak electromagnetic radiation

這種我們一直身處其中的

we are constantly surrounded by

微弱電磁輻射，

harmful in the long run 片語搭配

在長期來看是否有害，

as a result of some as yet unknown mechanism?

這是某種未知機制造成的嗎？

Answering this question was much harder than we first thought.

回答這個問題比我們最初想的要困難得多。

There are thousands of primary sources, reports,

各種組織機構發布了數以千計的

and statements by an onslaught of different organizations. 慣用語

一手來源、報告和聲明。

So, we read a lot for this video.

所以，為了這個影片我們閱讀了大量資料。

You can take a look at our research in the video description.

你可以在影片簡介裡看看我們的研究。

What we found is that this debate is a good example

我們發現，這場辯論是一個很好的例子，

of how science should be communicated 表達脈絡

證明了科學應該如何被傳播，

and how it shouldn't.

以及不該如何被傳播。

Many of the much-cited studies that spread panic 用詞

許多被廣泛引用並散播恐慌的

about electromagnetic radiation are highly controversial.

關於電磁輻射的研究都極具爭議。

For example,

例如，

a series of population studies based on surveys and self-reporting. 片語搭配

一系列基於問卷調查和自我報告的人群研究。

What this means is, for example,

這意味著，例如，

asking brain tumor patients how much they think

問腦腫瘤患者他們覺得

they used their phone in the last few years.

過去幾年自己用了多少次手機。

The problem is that people are unreliable.

問題是人的記憶是不可靠的。

We tend to misremember things or can be influenced easily. 片語搭配

我們容易記錯事情或者很容易受影響。

On top of this, 表達脈絡

此外，

studies or media reports may be cherry-picking 慣用語

研究或媒體報導可能會挑揀

the findings that best suit their opinion

最符合他們觀點的發現，

or make for the most exciting headline. 片語動詞

或者最能做成勁爆頭條的內容。

For example,

例如，

a study looking for cancer in rats and mice

一項尋找手機輻射

from cell phone radiation.

對大鼠和小鼠致癌作用的研究。

The results seemed to show a connection, 語氣意圖

結果似乎顯示出了一種聯繫，

but for some reason,

但出於某種原因，

only in male rats and none at all in mice.

只有在雄性大鼠中有，而在小鼠中完全沒有。

But it was reported as if this study did prove 文法

但報導出來卻好像這項研究證明了

that mobile phone radiation causes cancer.

手機輻射會致癌。

Unfortunately,

不幸的是，

this is the case for studies with both positive

無論是發現正向還是負向結果的研究，

and negative findings on the issue.

都是如此。

Another aspect is that the WHO did officially

另一個方面是，世衛組織確實正式地

classify radio frequency fields as possibly carcinogenic, 片語搭配

將射頻電磁場歸類為可能致癌的，

but what this actually means 文法

但這實際上意味著

is that there are some hints that they might cause cancer,

有一些跡象表明它們可能致癌，

but we can't prove it,

但我們無法證明它，

and that we will keep an eye out. 慣用語

而且我們會繼續關注。

So, if we zoom out a bit, 表達脈絡

所以，如果我們退一步看，

what's the big picture?

整體情況如何？

On the whole, 表達脈絡

總體來說，

there was no consistent evidence in human studies 用詞

在人類研究中，沒有一致的證據表明

that electromagnetic radiation below exposure value limits

低於暴露限值的電磁輻射

causes health problems.

會導致健康問題。

There are some statistical associations,

雖然有一些統計學上的關聯，

but they're mostly weak and inconsistent.

但大多數都很微弱且不一致。

If there were any definite cause-effect relations, 文法

如果存在任何明確的因果關係，

we would know by now

我們現在早就知道了，

because of all the data we have.

因為我們有大量的數據。

So, based on the current state of science, 片語搭配

所以，基於目前的科學水平，

should you worry about the radiation

你應該擔心

from your laptop or cell phone or TV?

筆記型電腦、手機或電視的輻射嗎？

The answer is no, you shouldn't.

答案是，你不應該擔心。

But what about the people that say it is harming them?

但那些說輻射正在傷害他們的人怎麼解釋呢？

Research showed they could be experiencing what's known as the nocebo effect. 文化背景

研究表明他們可能正在經歷所謂的反安慰劑效應。

If you have a headache and happen to start feeling 文法

如果你頭痛，碰巧在關掉筆記型電腦的時候

better right when you switch off your laptop,

開始感覺好些了，

you might see a connection between those two things.

你可能就會把這兩件事聯繫起來。

Once you get this suspicion,

一旦你產生了這種懷疑，

the idea alone that weak radiation might harm you

單單是微弱輻射可能傷害你的這個念頭

could be the very thing harming you. 文法

就可能正是傷害你的元兇。

It's easy to belittle these people. 用詞

貶低這些人很容易。

Most of them feel they're not being taken seriously, 片語搭配

他們大多數人覺得沒被認真對待，

which makes the situation even worse for them.

這使他們的處境更糟。

They should get support,

他們應該得到支持，

but it's important to be aware that so far, 文法

但重要的是要意識到，到目前為止，

we have no robust evidence 片語搭配

我們沒有確鑿的證據表明

that electricity below safety limits

安全限制內的電

has any negative effect on humans.

對人類有任何負面影響。

In the attention economy we live in, 文化背景

在我們生活的注意力經濟中，

talking about unproven dangers

談論未經證實的危險，

can make us neglect things that we know for sure are bad for us. 講解

會讓我們忽略那些我們確知有害的事情。

Just one example.

舉個例子，

Outdoor air pollution is linked to 4.2 million premature deaths each year,

室外空氣污染每年導致420萬人過早死亡，

and is definitely something we could have a real impact on today. 片語搭配

這絕對是我們今天就能對其產生實質影響的問題。

Still, to make people feel safe and just to make sure,

不過，為了讓大家感到安全，也為了以防萬一，

there are several long-term studies ongoing already.

已經有幾項長期的研究在進行中。

For example, the COSMOS study

例如，COSMOS研究

that will look at the possible health impacts

將探究可能的健康影響，

of cell phone use by exactly measuring frequency 文法

透過精確測量使用手機通話的頻率

and duration of phone calls.

和持續時間。

But while we wait for the conclusion of these long-term studies,

但在等待這些長期研究的結論期間，

there are a lot more pressing problems to focus on. 用詞

還有很多更緊迫的問題值得關注。