專傢警告稱，英國飲用水中 “永久性化學物質” 的含量需要受到更嚴格的控制，這些化學物質可能危害人類健康。這類污染物被稱為 PFAS（per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances），即全氟和多氟烷基物質。有研究表明，攝入大量的全氟和多氟烷基物質會導致嚴重的健康問題，包括癌癥和生育問題。
‘Forever chemicals’ are used in a wide range of products from food packaging to make-up because of their water-resistant properties.
“永久性化學物質” 因其防水的特性被廣泛用於食品包裝和化妝品等各類產品中。
UK water companies are required to test for 47 different types of PFAS. If levels are considered high risk, guidelines suggest the water isn’t used for drinking purposes.
目前，英國各自來水公司按要求需對水中47種全氟和多氟烷基物質（PFAS）的含量進行檢測。如果含量被認定為過高，根據英國飲用水監管局的指導方針，這些水則不可用作飲用水。
The Royal Society of Chemistry says this still exposes people to medium-risk levels and doesn’t cover thousands of other types of PFAS. It wants tests for all PFAS and a tenfold reduction in the levels deemed acceptable, more in line with the US.
英國皇傢化學學會表示，即便這樣，人們仍會接觸到一定量的有害物質，而且目前的檢測並沒有涵蓋數千種其它類型的全氟和多氟烷基物質。該機構希望可以對水中所有類型的全氟和多氟烷基物質進行檢測，並將飲用水中全氟和多氟烷基物質含量的最高限量降低十倍，更加接近美國的標準。
詞匯表
forever chemicals 永久性化學物質
food packaging 食品包裝
make-up 化妝品
water-resistant 防水的
PFAS “per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances” 的縮寫，全氟和多氟烷基物質
guidelines 準則，指導方針
exposes 使…暴露於
tenfold 十倍的
deemed 被視為
in line with 與…處於同等水準
閱讀理解：請在讀完上文後，回答下列問題。
1. Why are forever chemicals used in a wide range of products?
2. What happens if a UK water company finds high-risk levels of PFAS in water?
3. What does the Royal Society of Chemistry think about the current guidelines?
4. True or false? The Royal Society of Chemistry wants to reduce by ten times the levels of PFAS that’s deemed acceptable in drinking water.
答案
1. Why are forever chemicals used in a wide range of products?
‘Forever chemicals’ are used in a wide range of products because of their water-resistant properties.
2. What happens if a UK water company finds high-risk levels of PFAS in water?
Guidelines suggest the water isn’t used for drinking purposes.
3. What does the Royal Society of Chemistry think about the current guidelines?
The current guidelines suggest if levels of 47 types of PFAS tested are considered high risk, the water isn’t used for drinking purposes. The Royal Society of Chemistry says this still exposes people to medium-risk levels and doesn’t cover thousands of other types of PFAS.
4. True or false? The Royal Society of Chemistry wants to reduce by ten times the levels of PFAS that’s deemed acceptable in drinking water.
True. It wants tests for all PFAS and a tenfold reduction in the levels deemed acceptable, more in line with the US.
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