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All pesticides must be proven to meet these stringent
生产商必须证明，所有的杀虫剂产品
requirements by pesticide manufacturers before the
都符合这些严格的要求，只有这样
EPA will grant their use. And annual recertification
环保局才能允许其进入市场，每年的年检
is required. In testing, the EPA standard call for a
也是必须的，环保局标准在一定程度上
reasonable certainty of no harm. This means that for
能保证食物中不含有害物质，这就意味着
pesticides known to cause cancer, the MRL must not
对于那些可能致癌的杀虫剂 MRL的含量
exceed a risk to pesticide exposure below one cancer
必须控制在一定范围内，即接触者患
per one million persons exposed. For non-cancer
癌症的风险小于1/1000000
causing pesticides, acute or chronic use must be below
对于不致癌的杀虫剂，消费者食用的
the reference dose 99.9% of the time.
产品中的杀虫剂含量必须在99.9%
With this in mind, let's see what recent studies
的情况下符合标准，下面我们来看
of produce show in regard to pesticides.
最新的研究在杀虫剂方面有哪些成果
This chart shows data accumulated between
这份数据显示的是从1994年至
1994 and 1999 of conventional pesticide residues
1999年间在新鲜蔬菜和水果中
found in fresh fruits and vegetables. There are
传统杀虫剂的残余量，这有三家机构的
three organizations represented which are
数据，这三家机构都是信誉度高的
considered credible and independent sources.
独立的研究机构
These are the USDA, the California Department of
它们是美国农业部，加利福尼亚农药
Pesticide Regulation, and the Consumer's Union,
管理办公室，以及消费者联盟
all of which have different testing standards.
它们都有不同的检测标准
The USDA program is by far the most intensive of
其中农业部的调研是
the three studies. Between 1994 and 1999, pesticide
最深入的 1994-1999年间
residues were found in 79%, 31%, and 63% of
含有杀虫剂残余的常规食品比率
conventional foods respectively. Conversely, 26%,
分别为79% 31%和63%
7%, and 23% of organic foods were found to contain
而在有机食物中，这一比率为26%
conventional pesticides. The reasons for this are
7%和23%这背后的原因在很大程度上
largely from agricultural leaching from conventional
是因为农业已不仅限于
food farmers with a small amount, less than 1%,
传统的农业生产，而这其中有少量的人
stemming from faulty organic claims. It's important
假借有机食品的名号，我们要注意
to remember that pesticide residues are regulated by
杀虫剂残余是由环保局管理的
the EPA for safety. In a recent study, over 8,000
在最近的一项研究中，在8000个
samples were tested. 9 of the domestic samples and
送检样本中，有9个本土样本和
26 of the international samples residue concentrations
26个进口样本中的杀虫剂残留量
in excess of tolerance levels set by the USDA.
高于农业部的规定
The findings of pesticide residues at lower
有机食品含有
frequencies and at lower levels in organic foods
杀虫剂残余的比例更低
suggests that organic foods may be less risky than
这就意味着在在杀虫剂上
conventional foods with respect to pesticides.
有机食物的风险与常规食物相比更低
However, it is important to consider the risks, if any
但是在确定有机食物的健康功效之前
currently posed by pesticide residues in foods
我们必须首先要考虑
before determining the incremental health benefits
食品中的杀虫剂残余量
from consuming organic produce. Now, let's look at
下面我们来看
nitrate levels and purported
硝酸盐的含量水平以及
risks associated with their use.
与硝酸盐的运用相关的风险
Nitrates and nitrites are naturally occurring
硝酸盐一般存在于
In organic ions that are part of the nitrogen cycle.
有机离子中，它属于氮族
Microbial action in soil or water decomposes waste
土壤和水中微生物的活动能够将含有
containing organic nitrogen into ammonia which is
有机氮的废物分解成氨，之后氧化为
then oxidized to nitrite and nitrate. Because nitrite
硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐，由于亚硝酸盐很容易
is easily oxidized to nitrate, nitrate is the compound
被氧化成硝酸盐，亚硝酸盐大量存在于
predominantly found in ground water and surface waters
地下和地表水中
Contamination with nitrogen containing fertilizers,
含有氮的化肥，比如硝酸钾
for example, potassium nitrate and ammonium nitrate,
和硝酸铵，以及动物或人类的排泄物
or animal or human organic waste, can raise the
都会提高水中亚硝酸盐的含量
concentration of nitrate in water.
从而造成环境污染
