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 The team analysed clippings from 28 Christmas trees including needles and bark, from a range of species, and found 53 cases of mould. |
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Christmas trees could be to blame for a range of health complaints over the festive season, according to new research. Don't be too quick to judge those who feel under the weather over the festive period – rather than seasonal overindulgence, it could be their Christmas tree making them ill. The traditional centrepiece decoration has been blamed for triggering a range of health complaints, from wheezing and coughing to lethargy and insomnia. The condition – "Christmas Tree Syndrome" – is caused by mould growing on the trees, whose spores lead to problems when breathed in. It has been discovered by scientists from Upstate Medical University, part of the State University of New York, who carried out research after observing a peak in respiratory illnesses in the weeks either side of December 25. The team analysed clippings from 28 Christmas trees including needles and bark, from a range of species, and found 53 cases of mould. Of these, 70 percent can cause symptoms including itchy noses, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pains, sinus congestion, feelings of fatigue and problems sleeping. Some of the mould identified can even lead to long term lung problems and conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia. The mould occurs on the trees naturally, but thrives in the warm conditions of a well-heated home at Christmas. The team, writing in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, also reported another study which found that after a Christmas tree has been on display for a fortnight, the number of airborne mould spores increases from 800 per 35 cubic feet to 5,000. Dr Lawrence Kurlandsky, who led the research, said he had treated patients where there was a clear link between their illness and their Christmas tree. For those not wishing to opt for this extreme option, Dr Kurlandsky has two other pieces of advice for those wishing to avoid falling victim to Christmas Tree Syndrome. Firstly, hose down your tree in the garden and leave it to dry before bringing it inside. Then, to further reduce your chance, remove it swiftly after Christmas Day, long before the traditional Twelfth Night. (Read by Emily Cheng. Emily Cheng is a journalist at the China Daily Website.) (Agencies) |
新研究顯示，圣誕樹可能是圣誕節期間一連串身體不適的罪魁禍首。 不要急于評判那些節日期間身體不適的人，也許他們并不是因為節日期間過度縱欲，而是因為圣誕樹才生病的。 研究指出，這一作為裝飾物的傳統擺設引發了一系列健康問題，包括氣喘、咳嗽、嗜睡和失眠。 這種病癥名為“圣誕樹綜合癥”，是由樹上滋長的霉菌導致的，霉菌的孢子在被人吸入后會引發健康問題。 紐約州立大學西部醫學院的科學家注意到12月25日前后幾周是呼吸系統疾病的高發期，從而開展了這一研究，并發現了“圣誕樹綜合癥”。 研究小組分析了從28棵不同種類的圣誕樹上剪下的樣本，包括松針和樹皮，其中有53個樣本發現了霉菌。 這些霉菌有70%能導致鼻子發癢、流淚、咳嗽、氣短、胸痛、靜脈竇堵塞、疲勞感、睡眠問題等癥狀。 發現的某些霉菌甚至可能導致長期肺病，以及支氣管炎和肺炎等病癥。 這種霉菌會在樹上天然產生，在圣誕節供暖良好的室內溫度下則會大量滋生。 該研究小組的報告中還提到另一項研究，這一研究發現，在一棵圣誕樹擺放了兩星期之后，散播在空氣中的霉菌孢子數量從每35立方英尺800個增加到每35立方英尺5000個。該研究報告發表在《過敏、哮喘和免疫學年鑒》上。 這一研究的領頭人勞倫斯?柯蘭斯基醫生說，他治療過的病人中，有些人的病癥和家里的圣誕樹有明顯的關聯。 對于那些不想采取極端對策、就此告別圣誕樹而又不想成為圣誕樹綜合癥的受害者的人，柯蘭斯基醫生還有兩條建議。 首先，在花園里用水龍管淋澆你的圣誕樹，曬干后再放進室內。然后，為了進一步降低染病的幾率，在圣誕節過后迅速將其移出屋外，而不是等到傳統圣誕節的最后一夜——第十二夜（主顯節前夕）才移走。 相關閱讀 （中國日報網英語點津 陳丹妮 編輯：Julie） |
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Vocabulary: under the weather: 身體不適；有點小病 centrepiece: 放在餐桌（或壁爐臺等）中央的裝飾品 wheeze: 氣喘 lethargy: 嗜睡 insomnia: 失眠 mould: 霉菌 spore: 孢子 sinus: 靜脈竇 bronchitis: 支氣管炎 hose down: 用軟管淋澆、沖洗 |
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