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A new study suggests that particles found in wildfire smoke could increase the risk of getting dementia.
一项新的研究表明，在野火烟雾中发现的颗粒物可能会增加患痴呆症的风险。
Dementia is a progressive brain condition that causes thinking problems and other health issues.
痴呆症是一种渐进性脑部疾病，会导致思维问题和其他健康问题。
There are several forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
痴呆症有好几种形式，其中包括阿尔茨海默病。
Researchers reported the new findings about wildfire smoke at the recent Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The study centered on a substance called PM2.5.
研究人员在最近于宾夕法尼亚州费城举行的阿尔茨海默病协会国际会议上报告了有关野火烟雾的新发现。该研究集中在一种叫做PM2.5的物质上。
The substance is known as particulate matter, a mixture of small, solid particles and water droplets found in the air.
这种物质被称为颗粒物，是一种在空气中发现的小固体颗粒和水滴的混合物。
PM2.5 particles are about 30 times smaller than a human hair.
PM2.5颗粒比人类头发细约30倍。
They can be breathed into the lungs and then move on to the blood stream.
它们可以被吸入肺部，然后进入血液。
Existing evidence shows this kind of pollution – from traffic, factories and fires – can cause or worsen heart disease.
现有的证据表明，这种来自交通、工厂和火灾的污染会导致或加重心脏病。
The new study finds it could also raise dementia risks.
新的研究发现，它还可能增加痴呆风险。
Claire Sexton is the director of scientific programs for the Alzheimer’s Association.
克莱尔·塞克斯顿是阿尔茨海默氏症协会的科学项目主任。
She said in a statement the study shows that increasing wildfires, especially in the American west, are “an increasing threat to brain health.”
她在一份声明中说，这项研究表明，越来越多的野火，特别是在美国西部，对大脑健康构成了“越来越大的威胁”。
Sexton added that the findings demonstrate “the importance of enacting policies to prevent wildfires and investigating better methods to address them.”
塞克斯顿补充说，这些发现表明“制定预防野火的政策和研究更好的解决方法的重要性。”
Researchers from the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania carried out the study.
来自华盛顿大学和宾夕法尼亚大学的研究人员进行了这项研究。
They examined health records of 1.2 million older adults in Southern California between 2009 and 2019.
他们检查了2009年至2019年间南加州120万老年人的健康记录。
The scientists used air quality monitoring and other data to estimate how much PM2.5 was released from wildfire smoke or other ways over three years.
科学家们利用空气质量监测和其他数据来估算在三年时间里，野火烟雾或其他方式释放了多少PM2.5。
The study found the risk of being diagnosed with dementia increased about 21 percent for every 1 microgram increase in the concentration of wildfire particles.
该研究发现，野火颗粒浓度每增加1微克，被诊断患有痴呆症的风险就会增加约21%。
That compared with a 3 percent increased risk for every 3 microgram increase in non-wildfire particles. It is not clear why this difference exists.
这与非野火颗粒每增加3微克，风险增加3%形成对比。目前尚不清楚这种差异存在的原因。
But with wildfires increasing, this issue needs more study, said Alzheimer’s Association chief science officer Maria Carrillo.
但是，随着野火的增加，这个问题需要更多的研究，阿尔茨海默病协会首席科学官玛丽亚·卡里略谈到。
She said it is especially important because the risk of Alzheimer’s – the most common form of dementia – is higher for lower-income populations who may have a harder time avoiding unhealthy air.
她表示，这一点尤其重要，因为阿尔茨海默氏症——最常见的痴呆症形式——的风险对于低收入人群来说更高，他们可能更难避免不健康的空气。
Carrillo noted that health warnings urge staying indoors when air quality is poor.
卡里略指出，健康警告敦促人们在空气质量差时留在室内。
But she added, “there are a lot of people who don't have the option to stay home or they work outside. ”
但她补充说，“有很多人没有选择呆在家里还是在外面工作。”
I’m Bryan Lynn.
我是布莱恩·林恩。
