BBC NEWS 29 May，2001

　　Africa＇sunborn alcohol victims

　　South Africa＇s Western Cape province has the highest incidence of foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)in the world. FAS is caused when a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy.

　　It is no coincidence that the Western Cape is South Africa＇sgrape farming area and FAS was traditionally concentrated amongst coloured workers on local farms. There farmers would partially remunerate labourers in cheap rough wine. This way of life has promoted a culture of alcoholism amongst many of therural communities.

　　The typical features of FAS are stunted growth， a thick upper lip， squint and difficulty with speech. The damage depends on the amount of alcoholingested by the mother，and at which stage of the pregnancy it occurred. If it was throughout pregnancy all major organs can beaffected.

　　汉语译文：

　　南非：未出生的“酗酒者”

　　南非的好望角是世界上“胎儿酒精中毒症候群”(FAS)发病率最高的地方。该病因妇女怀孕期间酗酒而造成。

　　好望角是南非主要的葡萄种植园区，FAS常见于当地农场的黑人工人中，这两者并不是偶然巧合。那里的农场主通常会用便宜的粗制葡萄酒充当工人的部分工资，这种方式使酒精中毒成为许多村庄里的普遍现象。

　　FAS的典型症状包括胎儿发育缓慢、上唇肥大、眼睛斜视、以及语言障碍等。FAS对身体造成的损害取决于母亲的饮酒量及相应的怀孕期。如果母亲在怀孕期间持续酗酒，胎儿的全部重要器官可能都会受到影响。

　　(摘自2001年5月29日BBC新闻 周惠译)

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