Germ-killing Products

歌曲 Germ-killing Products
歌手 英语听力
专辑 VOA慢速英语:健康报道

歌词

[00:00.10] From VOA Learning English,
[00:02.48] this is the Health Report.
[00:05.63] One of the best ways to avoid getting sick
[00:09.62] is washing your hands with soap and water.
[00:14.27] It has been shown effective in removing harmful germs
[00:19.04] and preventing their spread.
[00:21.89] Some companies have gone to great lengths
[00:25.30] to manufacture germ-killing products
[00:29.76] like antibacterial soaps.
[00:32.62] In the United States,
[00:34.52] a federal agency recently called
[00:38.23] on the makers of such soaps
[00:40.93] to prove they are more effective
[00:44.08] than traditional soap and water.
[00:47.58] The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said
[00:50.83] the widespread use of antibacterial soaps
[00:55.58] may be partly to blame for an increase
[00:59.72] in rising rates of drug-resistant bacteria,
[01:04.97] some evidence have suggested the products
[01:08.97] may even be harmful to your health.
[01:12.72] The FDA has proposed that manufacturers
[01:17.63] be required to prove that antimicrobial soaps
[01:22.80] lower rates of disease more than other soaps.
[01:27.96] It would also require the companies to show
[01:31.67] how these cleanser do more good than harm.
[01:37.22] FDA officials estimate there are about
[01:41.74] 2,000 antimicrobial soaps on the market.
[01:47.03] People may think such products do a better job
[01:51.64] protecting them from getting sick, however,
[01:55.69] some studies suggest long-term use of the products
[02:00.50] can affect hormone levels and may be linked to cancer.
[02:06.35] The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
[02:10.15] has taken legal action against the FDA
[02:14.51] for letting companies use the chemicals triclosan
[02:19.71] and triclocarban in soaps.
[02:23.26] Mae Wu is a lawyer with the group.
[02:27.46] "I think it's a great for start."
[02:29.32] But soap industry representatives say
[02:32.57] they do not understand the FDA proposal.
[02:37.67] In a statement, the Personal Care Products Council says
[02:42.68] it has already given in-depth data to the government.
[02:48.44] It says the information shows that antibacterial soaps
[02:54.20] are more effective in killing germs
[02:57.75] when compared with non-antibacterial soap.
[03:02.91] It also says the soaps do not add to resistance of antibiotic drugs.
[03:10.20] Sandra Kweder is the Deputy Director of the FDA.
[03:16.06] She says her agency's move is an attempt
[03:20.93] to learn the benefits of using antibacterial products
[03:26.67] and their possible risks.
[03:29.18] If the proposed rule is approved,
[03:32.34] soap manufacturers would have to carry out studies
[03:37.08] showing their products are safe and more effective than plain soap.
[03:43.58] If approved, Ms Kweder expects the rule would take effect in 2016.
[03:51.09] And that's the Health Report from VOA Learning English.
[03:55.45] I'm Milagros Ardin.