As if our magnificent trees didn’t have enough problems, they’re now being threatened by our emails. Now researchers say radiation from wi-fi networks that enable our burgeoning online communications may be their latest enemy.
生长在我们身边的树木看起来枝繁叶茂，没有外来虫害的侵扰，但它们可能在无形之中已经受到了来自WI-FI的伤害。研究人员发现，在新兴网络通讯中大放异彩的WI-FI，可能已经成为了树木最新的敌人。
Trees planted close to a wireless router had bleeding bark and dying leaves, according to the study in Holland. The revelation will raise fears that wi-fi radiation may also be having an effect on the human body and supports parents who have campaigned to stop wireless routers being installed in schools. In 2007, a BBC Panorama documentary found that radiation levels from wi-fi in one school was up to three times the level of mobile phone mast radiation. However, the readings were 600 times below government safety limits.
来自荷兰方面的研究证明，种植在无线路由器辐射范围内的树木都出现了“流液不断”和“枯萎”等症状。这种现象更增加了人们对WI-FI辐射有害人体的担忧，许多家长已经要求学校停止使用安装在校园内的无线路由器。在一部BBC于2007年拍摄的全景纪录片中显示，一所学校内WI-FI的辐射强度是手机信号辐射强度的3倍，而相对于政府设定的600倍的上限来说，这个数据还是比较安全的。
The city of Alphen aan den Rijn, in the Netherlands, ordered the study after officials found unexplained abnormalities on trees. Researchers took 20 ash trees and for three months exposed them to six sources of radiation. Trees placed closest to the wi-fi source developed a ‘lead-like shine’ on their leaves that was caused by the upper and lower epidermis – the leaf’s skin – dying. Researchers also discovered that wi-fi radiation could slow the growth of corn cobs.
位于莱茵河畔的荷兰城市阿尔芬，在政府发现了树木的异常症状后，专门对此进行了为期3个月研究。研究人员将20棵白蜡树暴露在6个辐射源的范围内， 发现离发射源最近的树叶出现了暗色的光斑，而这些光斑会对树叶的表皮形成伤害进而造成枯萎。同时研究人员还发现，WI-FI的辐射会减缓玉米棒的生长。
In the Netherlands, 70 per cent of all trees in urban areas show the same symptoms, compared with 10 per cent five years ago, the study found. Trees in densely forested areas are not affected. The Wageningen University scientists behind the research, which has not yet been published, said that further studies were needed to confirm their findings. The Dutch health agency issued a statement, stressing that ‘these are initial results and that they have not been confirmed in a repeat survey’. It added: ‘There are no far-reaching conclusions from its results. Based on the information now available it cannot be concluded that the wi-fi radio signals leads to damage to trees or other plants.’
在荷兰的城市地区，有70%的树木出现了类似的症状，而5年前这个数据只有10%，同时树木相对稠密的森林倒没有受到什么影响。不过参与该项研究的瓦赫宁恩大学（Wageningen University）的科学家们并没有公布研究成果，他们认为还需要进行更加深入的研究来对这一结论进行确认。荷兰卫生机构随后对此发表了一份声明，强调“这只是初步的研究结果，科学家们还没有通过多次调查来对此种情况进行确认。基于目前这些信息而得出的结论，还不能确定WI-FI辐射是损伤树木及其它植物的罪魁祸首。”
Other scientists have expressed scepticism. Marvin Ziskin, a professor of radiology and medical physics at Temple University in Philadelphia, said: ‘Stuff like this has been around a long time. There’s nothing new about wi-fi emissions.Scientifically there’s no evidence to support that these signals are a cause for concern.
有些科学家对这个结论表示怀疑。费城天普大学放射学和医学物理学方面的教授马文·泽斯金（Marvin Ziskin）说：“这种症状很早之前就已经出现了，和WI-FI没有什么直接的联系，同时也没有科学证据来说明是WI-FI信号引发了那些症状。”
幼芬译自英国《每日邮报》