據路透社7月7日報道，美國地質調查局新發(fā)布的研究報告顯示，美國至少45%的自來水中都含有有毒的全氟和多氟烷基物質（PFAS）。由于在環(huán)境和人體中不易降解，PFAS也被稱為“永久化學物質”。

Nearly half of U.S. tap water samples contain toxic "forever chemicals," substances used in hundreds of household items from cleaning supplies to pizza boxes to which broad exposure can carry serious health risks, according to a new study.
一項新研究顯示，近一半的美國自來水樣本中含有有毒的“永久性化學物質”，從清潔用品到披薩盒等數百種家庭用品都含有這種化學物質，廣泛接觸可能會帶來嚴重的健康風險。

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study tested tap water samples from more than 700 residences, businesses and drinking-water treatment plants across the country for the presence of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl chemicals known as PFAS.
美國地質調查局的研究收集了來自全美700多個住宅、企業(yè)和飲用水處理廠的自來水樣本，檢測其中是否含有全氟及多氟烷基物質（PFAS化學物質）。

At least one such synthetic chemical was detected in 45% of the samples at levels exceeding benchmarks and U.S. proposed regulations, the researchers said.
研究人員表示，在45%的樣本中至少檢測到一種此類合成化學物質，其含量超過了測量基準和美國擬議的法規(guī)標準。

PFAS are water resistant, meaning they do not break down in the environment and last in human bodies for years. Developed in the 1940s with the creation of Teflon, a non-stick cookware coating, today they are used in everything from clothing to plastic products.
PFAS不溶于水，這意味著其不會在環(huán)境中分解，能在人體內存在數年。在20世紀40年代，隨著不粘炊具涂料“特氟龍”的發(fā)明而得到開發(fā)的這些物質，如今被用于從服裝到塑料制品的各種產品中。

Previous studies have measured PFAS in ground water, reservoirs and water treatment plants. But analyzing tap water allows for a more accurate assessment of what people are drinking, said Kelly Smalling, a USGS hydrologist who led the research.
此前研究已經測量了地下水、水庫和水處理廠中的PFAS物質。但領導這項研究的美國地質調查局水文學家凱麗·斯莫林說，分析自來水可以更準確地評估人體攝入該物質的情況。

Exposure to high levels of PFAS can disrupt hormones, disturb liver function, increase the risk of kidney or testicular cancer, reduce birth weight in infants and compromise the health of pregnant women, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
美國疾病控制與預防中心稱，暴露于高水平的PFAS會破壞激素，擾亂肝功能，增加腎臟或睪丸癌癥的風險，降低嬰兒出生體重，并危害孕婦的健康。

Tests exist for a fraction of the 12,000 known types of PFAS. The study samples, which came from public supplies and private wells between 2016 and 2021, were tested for 32 types.
已知的PFAS物質有12000種，檢測只針對其中一小部分。研究樣本來自2016年至2021年間的公共供應和私人水源，共測試了32種PFAS物質。

There was no difference in PFAS exposure between samples from private wells and the public supply, which "was very surprising,” Smalling said.
斯莫林說，私人和公共水源樣本在PFAS暴露量方面沒有差異，這一結果“令人驚訝”。

Public water supplies are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency while private wells are not.
公共供水由環(huán)境保護局監(jiān)管，而私人水源則不受監(jiān)管。

Compared with people in rural areas, those in urban areas are at higher risk of exposure to PFAS in drinking water, the study found.
研究發(fā)現，與農村地區(qū)的人相比，城市地區(qū)的人接觸飲用水中PFAS的風險更高。

編輯：董靜