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A recent study shows that meat consumption is one of the main ways that humans can damage the environment,
最近一項研究表明，肉類消費已經(jīng)成為人類危害環(huán)境的主要方式之一，
second only to the use of motor vehicles.
僅次于機動車的使用。
So how can eating meat have a negative effect on the environment?
那么吃肉是如何對環(huán)境造成負面影響的呢？
For a start, all animals, such as cows, pigs and sheep, release a gas named methane,
首先，所有的動物，比如牛、豬、羊，都會釋放出一種叫做甲烷的氣體，
which is the second most common green-house gas after carbon dioxide.
而甲烷是僅次于二氧化碳的最常見的溫室氣體。
Many environmental experts now believe that methane is more responsible for global warming than carbon dioxide.
如今許多環(huán)境專家認為，相比于二氧化碳，甲烷對全球氣候變暖負有更大的責任。
It is estimated that 25% of all methane released into the atmosphere comes from farm animals.
據(jù)估計，排放到大氣中的25%的甲烷來自于家畜。
Another way in which meat production affects the environment is through the use of water and land.
肉類消費影響環(huán)境的另一種方式便是對水資源和土地資源的占用。
2,500 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of beef,
生產(chǎn)一磅牛肉，需要2500加侖的水，
whereas 20 gallons of water are needed to produce one pound of wheat.
而生產(chǎn)一磅小麥，只需要20加侖的水。
One acre of farmland used for raising cows can produce 250 pounds of beef.
一英畝農(nóng)地用于養(yǎng)牛，可以產(chǎn)出250磅牛肉。
One acre of farmland used for crop production can produce 50,000 pounds of tomatoes.
一英畝農(nóng)地用于種植作物，則可以產(chǎn)出5萬磅西紅柿。
Many people now see the benefits of switching to a vegetarian diet which excludes meat and fish,
如今，許多人已經(jīng)意識到了改吃素食、拒絕肉類魚類的好處，
not just for health reasons, but also because it plays a vital role in protecting the environment.
不僅僅是因為健康方面的原因，還因為素食在環(huán)保方面扮演著至關(guān)重要的作用。
However, some nutritionists advise against switching to a totally strict vegetarian diet.
然而，一些營養(yǎng)學家并不贊成完完全全的素食主義。
They believe such a diet which includes no products from animal sources
他們認為，這樣一種不含任何動物制品的膳食
can be deficient in many of the necessary vitamins and minerals our bodies need.
缺乏人體所必需的維他命和礦物質(zhì)。
Today many people have come to realize that to help the environment and for the human race to survive,
如今許多人已經(jīng)意識到，為了保護環(huán)境，為了人類的生存，
more of us will need to become vegetarian.
越來越多的人將有必要加入素食主義者的行列。
