VOA慢速英語:美國食品藥品管理局質疑抗菌香皂的安全性

FDA Questions Safety of Antibacterial Soaps

美國食品藥品管理局質疑抗菌香皂的安全性

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語健康報道。

One of the best ways to avoid getting sick is washing your hands with soap and water. It has been shown effective in removing harmful germs and preventing their spread. Some companies have gone to great lengths to manufacture germ-killing products like antibacterial soaps.

避免生病最好的辦法之一是用香皂和清水洗手，這已經被證實可以有效去除有害細菌并防止其傳播。一些公司一直不遺余力地生產殺菌產品，如抗菌香皂。

In the United States, a federal agency recently called on the makers of such soaps to prove they are more effective than traditional soap and water.

美國一家聯邦機構最近要求這類香皂的制造商證明它們比傳統(tǒng)香皂和清水更為有效。

美國聯邦衛(wèi)生監(jiān)管機構質疑在美國銷售的75%的香皂和沐浴液中發(fā)現的殺菌成分的安全性

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the widespread use of antibacterial soaps may be partly to blame for an increase in rising rates of drug-resistant bacteria, some evidence have suggested the products may even be harmful to your health.

美國食品藥品管理局(簡稱FDA)表示，抗菌香皂的廣泛使用可能是耐藥菌不斷增加的部分原因。有些證據已經表明這類產品甚至可能會損害您的健康。

The FDA has proposed that manufacturers be required to prove that antimicrobial soaps lower rates of disease more than other soaps. It would also require the companies to show how these cleanser do more good than harm.

美國食品藥品管理局已經提出，制造商必須證明抗菌香皂減少致病率比其它香皂更強。它還將要求這些公司展示出這類清潔用品如何利大于弊。

FDA officials estimate there are about 2,000 antimicrobial soaps on the market. People may think such products do a better job protecting them from getting sick, however, some studies suggest long-term use of the products can affect hormone levels and may be linked to cancer.

美國食品藥品管理局官員估計市場上大約有2千種抗菌香皂。人們可能認為這類產品可以更好地防止他們生病，然而，一些研究表明，長期使用這類產品會影響激素水平，同時可能和癌癥有關。

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has taken legal action against the FDA for letting companies use the chemicals triclosan and triclocarban in soaps.

美國自然資源保護委員會(簡稱NRDC)已經針對美國食品藥品管理局允許有關公司在香皂中使用三氯生和三氯卡班等化學用品采取法律行動。

Mae Wu is a lawyer with the group. "I think it's a great for start." But soap industry representatives say they do not understand the FDA proposal.

吳美(Mae Wu)是該組織的一名律師。她說，“我認為這是一個偉大的開始。”但香皂行業(yè)代表稱，他們不理解美國食品藥品管理局的提案。

In a statement, the Personal Care Products Council says it has already given in-depth data to the government. It says the information shows that antibacterial soaps are more effective in killing germs when compared with non-antibacterial soap. It also says the soaps do not add to resistance of antibiotic drugs.

在一份聲明中，美國個人護理產品委員會表示，它已經向政府提交了一份深入的數據，有關資料表明，抗菌香皂在殺菌方面比非抗菌香皂更有效。它還表示，這些香皂不會增加抗生素藥物的耐藥性。

Sandra Kweder is the Deputy Director of the FDA. She says her agency's move is an attempt to learn the benefits of using antibacterial products and their possible risks.

桑德拉·奎德爾(Sandra Kweder)是美國食品藥品管理局副局長。她說該機構的行動是為了了解使用抗菌產品的優(yōu)點及其可能的風險。

If the proposed rule is approved, soap manufacturers would have to carry out studies showing their products are safe and more effective than plain soap.

如果該提案被通過，香皂制造商就不得不進行研究以表明其產品是安全的，并且比普通香皂更為有效。

If approved, Ms Kweder expects the rule would take effect in 2016.

奎德爾女士表示，如果提案通過，她預計該規(guī)定將于2016年生效。