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Drinking water contaminated with bacteria can easily lead to massive disease outbreaks
饮用细菌污染的水很容易导致大规模疾病的爆发，
such as the cholera epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo where over 1000 people have died since July 2017.
比如大面积霍乱，自2017年7月开始，刚果有超一千人因霍乱死亡。
Testing water for bacterial contamination is relatively easy, but still beyond the means of the poor people living in affected areas.
对水进行细菌检测很容易，但对于生活在受灾地区的贫民而言，他们没钱购买这些检测仪器。
Researchers at the University of Bath in southwestern England are testing a simple and cheap device that could help ordinary people check their water.
来自英格兰西南部的巴斯大学正在测试一种既简单又容易的方法，普通民众可以通过它来监测水质。
They can be used at site and it gives a very fast response, so we are taking about seconds.
我们可以拿着它去现场监测，几秒钟就会有结果。
Biodegradable carbon-based electrodes printed on a piece of paper are covered with a layer of fluid called the biofilm.
可降解的碳电极被印在了纸上，这张纸覆盖了一层名叫生物膜的流体。
This generates an electrical charge that can be recorded with a current measuring instrument.
这张纸可以产生电荷，电流测量仪器可以将结果记录下来。
All that we need to do is then recording the background current signal that this device gives us
我们要做的是记录下设备的电流信号，
and then put it into the sample or water that we want to test and see whether these signal drops or stay constant.
然后把它放到待检的样品或水样中，看这个信号是下降了还是保持不变。
If it drops, it means there is something bad in the water.
如果它下降了那就说明水质有问题。
Instead of a current measuring instrument, the paper sensor could be connected to a mobile phone.
这种纸张感应器可以与手机相连，而无需再用电流测量设备。
It's like a warning tool that tells you at site, yes the water is safe or not.
它就像一个警报器，会当场告诉你水质安全与否。
Researcher say when mass-produced, this biofilm device will cost just over one dollar.
研究人员称一旦实现量产，这种生物膜检测纸售价只有一美元多一点。
George Putic, VOA News.
美国之音新闻，乔治·普提克报道。
