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A new study found that nearly half of bald eagles tested across the United States show signs of repeated lead exposure.
一项新的研究发现，在美国接受测试的秃鹰中，有近一半显示出反复铅暴露的迹象。
Scientists found harmful levels of lead in the bones of 46 percent of bald eagles in 38 states, from California to Florida.
科学家们发现，加利福尼亚州、佛罗里达州等38个州的46%的秃鹰的骨骼中的铅含量达到了有害水平。
The scientists recently reported their findings in the publication Science.
科学家们最近在《科学》杂志上发表了他们的研究结果。
Researchers examined the blood, bones, feathers and liver tissue of 1,210 eagles between 2010 and 2018.
研究人员在2010年至2018年期间对1210只鹰的血液、骨骼、羽毛和肝脏组织进行了检查。
Todd Katzner is a wildlife biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey in Boise, Idaho.
托德·卡茨纳是爱达荷州博伊西市美国地质调查局的一名野生生物学家。
He is also a co-writer of the study.
他也是这项研究的合著者。
He said, "This is the first time for any wildlife species that we've been able to evaluate lead exposure and population level consequences at a continental scale."
他说：“这是我们第一次能够在大陆范围内对野生物种的铅暴露和种群水平进行评估。”
He said it was "stunning," or very surprising, that nearly 50 percent of the birds showed signs of lead exposure.
他说，近50%的鸟类显示出铅暴露的迹象，这是非常“令人震惊的”。
Lead is a poisonous substance that affects the nervous system and interferes with the normal function of nerve cells.
铅是一种有毒物质，会影响神经系统，干扰神经细胞的正常功能。
Even in low amounts, lead can reduce bald eagles' ability to fly, hunt and reproduce.
即使含量很低，铅也会降低秃鹰的飞行、狩猎和繁殖的能力。
In high amounts, lead causes seizures, breathing difficulty and death.
大量的铅会导致癫痫发作、呼吸困难和死亡。
Similar rates of lead exposure were found in golden eagles.
在金雕身上也发现了类似的铅暴露率。
Scientists say that means the birds likely ate animal meat containing lead from ammunition or fishing equipment.
科学家表示，这意味着这些鸟很可能吃了弹药或渔具中含有铅的动物肉。
The study estimated that lead exposure reduced the yearly population growth of bald eagles by 4 percent and golden eagles by 1 percent.
这项研究估计，铅暴露使秃鹰和金雕每年的数量分别减少了4%和1%。
Bald eagles are one of America's most celebrated conservation success stories.
秃鹰是美国最著名的保护成功的案例之一。
The birds were removed from the U.S. Endangered Species List in 2007.
这种鸟于2007年被从美国濒危物种名单中移除。
But scientists say that high lead levels are still a concern.
但科学家们表示，高铅含量仍然是一个令人担忧的问题。
Lead exposure also reduces their ability to face future difficulties, such as climate change or infectious diseases.
铅暴露也降低了它们面对未来困难的能力，例如气候变化或传染病。
"When we talk about recovery, it's not really the end of the story--there are still threats to bald eagles," said Krysten Schuler.
克里斯滕·舒勒说：“当我们谈论恢复的时候，这并不是故事的真正结局——秃鹰仍然面临着威胁。”
She is a wildlife disease ecologist at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine and was not involved in the study.
她是康奈尔大学兽医学院的野生生物疾病生态学家，她没有参与这项研究。
Earlier studies have shown high lead exposure in some areas of the U.S., but not across the country.
之前的研究表明，美国一些地区的铅暴露水平很高，而不是在全国范围内。
The blood samples from live eagles in the new study were taken from birds trapped and studied for other reasons.
在这项新的研究中，活鹰的血液样本是从因其他原因被捕获然后用于研究的鸟类中提取的。
The bone, feather and liver samples came from eagles killed by vehicles, power lines or other causes.
骨头、羽毛和肝脏样本来自被汽车、电线等其他原因杀死的鹰。
"Lead is…available to these birds more than we previously thought," said co-writer Vince Slabe.
该研究的合著者文斯·斯拉布说：“这些鸟类体内铅的含量比我们之前想象的要高。”
He is a research wildlife biologist at the nonprofit group Conservation Science Global.
他是非营利组织“全球保护科学”的一名野生生物研究生物学家。
He added that a small piece of lead "the size of the end of a pin" is large enough to cause death in an eagle.
他补充说，一小块“针尖大小”的铅足以导致一只鹰死亡。
The researchers also found higher levels of lead exposure in fall and winter.
研究人员还发现，秋季和冬季的铅暴露水平更高。
During these months, eagles eat animal remains left by hunters.
在这几个月里，鹰吃猎人留下的动物残骸。
These remains often contain many pieces of lead ammunition.
这些残骸通常含有许多铅。
Slabe said he hopes the findings provide a chance to "talk to hunters about this issue in a clear manner."
斯拉布说，他希望这些发现能提供一个机会，“以清晰的方式与猎人讨论这个问题。”
He added that he hopes more hunters will voluntarily begin using non-lead ammunition such as copper bullets.
他还说，他希望更多的猎人能主动开始使用铜子弹等无铅弹药。
I'm Jonathan Evans.
乔纳森·埃文斯为您播报。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
