暗藏危機的時髦
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes for short, are often touted as a healthier alternative to regular tobacco cigarettes. Although they have been available in North America for just a few years, their increasing popularity and the advertising behind them tend to make people believe they are safe and harmless.
電子香菸，或簡稱電子菸，常被譽為是比一般香菸健康的替代品。雖然僅在北美流通幾年，但水漲船高的人氣加上廣告效果，都意圖使人認為電子菸安全且無害。
tout(v.)讚揚、吹捧
However, the reality is far more alarming than appearances suggest. Here are a couple of science-backed truths about e-cigarettes, to help clear up some common misconceptions surrounding this trendy product.
然而，電子菸其實暗藏危機，這邊提出幾個有科學根據的事實，澄清幾個常見的電子菸迷思。
alarming(adj.)令人擔憂的clear up解釋清楚misconception(n.)誤解
Following five reported deaths linked to e-cigarettes, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is investigating the connection between vaping and severe pulmonary disease.
在5個通報死亡案例後，美國疾病管制與預防中心（CDC）著手調查吸電子菸與肺部疾病的關聯性。
investigate(v.)調查vaping(n.)吸電子菸pulmonary(adj.)肺的
Vaping devices heat liquid into vapor-like particles and, according to the CDC, these liquids are exactly where the problem lies. With e-cigarettes containing a substance called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, many people have reported symptoms such as shortness of breath, incessant coughing, and chest pain.
他們發現，電子菸裝置將液體加熱霧化成細小粒子，CDC指出，這些液體就是問題所在。電子菸中含有一種叫做四氫大麻酚的物質，又稱THC，讓許多人產生呼吸困難、持續咳嗽與胸痛等症狀。
vapor(n.)蒸氣、霧氣particle(n.)粒子lie(v.)責任、罪責在於⋯⋯lie-lay-lainincessant(adj.)連續不斷的
Although the underlying mechanism of vaping-induced lung disease remains unclear, evidence has pointed toward THC as the likeliest culprit.
雖然目前仍不清楚電子菸是否直接造成肺部疾病，但許多證據顯示，THC可能是其中的罪魁禍首。
underlying(adj.)深層的、隱含的mechanism(n.)機械裝置induce(v.)導致=causeculprit(n.)罪魁禍首
In addition to THC, e-cigarettes contain another toxic substance, that is to say the notorious nicotine.
除了THC，電子菸還含有另一種毒物，那就是惡名昭彰的尼古丁。
toxic(adj.)有毒的notorious(adj.)惡名昭彰的
In liquid form, it is prone to be fatal if swallowed in high doses. With the enticing aroma of the flavored liquid, the chance of such an accident occurring should not be overlooked.
在液體的狀態下，更容易吞下足以致命、大劑量的尼古丁，加上電子菸中添加香味的液體、好聞的味道，使這種意外發生的機率不容忽視。
prone to易受於～fatal(adj.)致命的dose(n.)劑量enticing(adj.)有吸引力的aroma(n.)香味overlook(v.)忽視
In fact, Dr. Robert A. Bassett, a toxicologist at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, once reported a case of liquid nicotine poisoning a 10-month-old boy. Fortunately, he survived after hours of treatment.
事實上，費城愛因斯坦醫療中心的毒物學家Dr. Robert A. Bassett就曾回報一則案例，其中尼古丁毒害了一位10個月大的小男孩。幸運的是，在經過幾小時的治療後，他存活了下來。
poison(v.)毒害survive(v.)存活
Bassett noted that a mere teaspoonful of liquid nicotine could kill a person weighing 200 pounds.
Bassett點出，僅僅一茶匙的尼古丁，就可以毒死重200磅（約90.8公斤）的人類。
mere(adv.)僅僅
Researchers concluded that the attractive and fashionable appearance of e-cigarettes has often misled the public into believing they are safer than their traditional counterparts.
研究者總結，電子菸吸引人又時髦的外觀時常誤導大家，讓人們認為電子菸比傳統香菸安全。
mislead(v.)誤導counterpart(n.)相對應者
Education and interventions are desperately needed to protect the public from all sorts of cigarettes, including e-cigarettes.
應該盡快將這樣的觀念帶給大眾，讓大家免於各種菸品，包含電子菸的傷害。
intervention(n.)干預desperately(adv.)非常