The Danger in the Walls|壁中危机

by Brian Foden

Once thought of as a great product, asbestos is now known as a hidden killer.

There was a time when asbestos (石棉) was considered quite desirable in the construction industry. It was extremely pliable, easily _(1)_, and rather cheap. Thus, prior to the early 1970s, it was widely used as insulation for buildings and pipes because it was fireproof and lightweight. Then, the truth about the hidden dangers of this naturally occurring material was discovered.

There are good reasons why asbestos is no longer used in the building of houses, apartments, or other dwellings. Simply put, this fibrous substance is extremely harmful to people's health, especially the lungs. Exposure to asbestos is often compared to smoking. The more frequently it occurs, the _(2)_ the effects. Indeed, just as is the case with prolonged smoking, lung cancer is one possible outcome of breathing in the minute asbestos particles. Another type of cancer _(3)_ with the inhalation of this harmful material is called mesothelioma (间皮癌), which attacks the lining of the lungs and the lower digestive tract. _(4)_ another condition is asbestosis (石棉沉滞症). This is when the body reacts _(5)_ the asbestos fibers in the lungs by producing an acid. However, rather than destroying the asbestos, the acid _(6)_ scars the lungs. The symptoms of these diseases, which typically take from 15 to 40 years to manifest themselves, are coughing and a progressively worsening shortness of breath.

Fortunately for today's construction workers, the _(7)_ of breathing in asbestos fibers are now well-known. Unfortunately, though, this knowledge comes too late for those who unwittingly damaged their health prior to the 1970s.

1.  (A) ashamed (B) specific    (C) available   (D) prosperous

2.  (A) even worse  (B) worse   (C) bad (D) worst

3.  (A) associated  (B) confined    (C) fulfilled   (D) motivated

4.  (A) Far (B) Still   (C) Even    (D) More

5.  (A) as  (B) for (C) to  (D) in

6.  (A) intimately  (B) severely    (C) urgently    (D) mutually

7.  (A) hazards (B) illusions   (C) compliments (D) boundaries

壁中危机

石棉一度被认为是一种了不起的产品，如今却被称为是『隐形杀手』。

曾经有一段时期石棉被认为是营建业中的好建材。它极具韧性、容易取得而且相当便宜。因此在 1970 年代早期之前，因为石棉既防火重量又轻，所以被广泛地用来作为建筑物和管路上的绝缘体。然后，存在于这种天然材质的潜在危机的真相被人发现了。

有很充份的理由可以解释石棉为何不再被用在房屋、公寓或是其他住宅的建筑上。简言之，这种纤维物质对人体健康有极大的伤害，特别是肺部。曝露在石棉下常被比喻成吸烟。愈常接触石棉，影响愈深。的确，就像长期吸烟的情况，肺癌也是长期吸入细微石棉粉尘可能会得到的结果。另一种与吸入这种有害健康物质有关的癌症称为『间皮癌』，这种疾病会侵袭肺的内膜以及下消化道。另外还有一种疾病就是『石棉沉滞症（俗称石棉肺）』。这是当人体对肺中的石棉纤维作出反应，进而产生一种酸。然而，这种酸不会破坏石棉，反而会严重伤害我们的肺。这些疾病的症状，通常要花费 15 至 40 年才会显现出来，症状是会不断咳嗽以及日益恶化的气喘。

今日的建筑工人很幸运，他们已经明白吸入石棉纤维的危害。但遗憾的是，这些知识来得太晚，让 1970 年代以前的工人都不自觉地吸入这些会损害他们健康的物质。

答案：  1.  C   2.  B   3.  A   4.  B   5.  C

   6.  B   7.  A

俄罗斯、加拿大、中国、印度和巴西是目前石棉生产和使用大国。中国的石棉资源仅次于俄罗斯和加拿大。而中国从事石棉采选业的人员约有 12 万人，从事各类石棉制品加工的人更在 100万人以上。而现在医学界已经确定石棉造成的环境污染会严重危及人体健康。但是石棉作为一种高效而廉价的工业材料，相信它不会这么快就退出历史舞台。（数据源：BBC新闻网）