Disease and "broken windows".Frumkin's editorial in the May 2005 issue of EHP EHP abbr. 1. effective horsepower 2. electric horsepower (Frumkin 2005) was very interesting and enlightening. On page A291, Frumkin cited several studies that endorse the "broken windows theory," noting that Part of this effect may well be due to the disorder and squalor of the environment. Poor people and people of color are disproportionately exposed to "broken windows." It is interesting that the "broken windows" are considered to cause disease and health inequity. What happened first: the "broken windows," or the lack of social skills and the abandonment of the population who live in such places? As a scientist, I find it very difficult to accept that "broken windows" are associated with the number of cases of gonorrhea gonorrhea (gŏnərē`ə), common infectious disease caused by a bacterium (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), involving chiefly the mucous membranes of the genitourinary tract. and are associated with causality causality, in philosophy, the relationship between cause and effect. A distinction is often made between a cause that produces something new (e.g., a moth from a caterpillar) and one that produces a change in an existing substance (e.g. . The cases of venereal diseases (VD) are more related to the social skills and social behaviors of the people living in the community. They also have a lack of respect for property, and destruction of property often occurs. If we say the reverse is plausible, what would happen if we got a grant and fixed all of the "broken windows" in a particular community, with no other intervention, and observed the trend of VD? With the assumptions and inferences made in Frumkin's editorial, this would have a positive effect in reducing cases of VD. My instincts tell me that this would not be the case. The "broken windows" are a consequence of the behaviors of that particular community and they are not the cause of the behaviors. The "broken windows" are what I consider "collateral damage collateral damage Surgery A popular term for any undesired but unavoidable co-morbidity associated with a therapy–eg, chemotherapy-induced CD to the BM and GI tract as a side effect of destroying tumor cells " of people lacking the necessary social skills to overcome certain challenges, such as socioeconomic stress and the lack of maintenance provided by building owners. These people show their frustration and anger many times against property, as well as other people. The author declares he has no competing financial interests. REFERENCE Frumkin H. 2005. Health, equity, and the built environment [Editorial]. Environ Health Perspect 113:A290-A291. Leo Leo, in astronomy Leo [Lat.,=the lion], northern constellation lying S of Ursa Major and on the ecliptic (apparent path of the sun through the heavens) between Cancer and Virgo; it is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Melendez Public Health Seattle-King County Local Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste Any solid, liquid, or gaseous waste materials that, if improperly managed or disposed of, may pose substantial hazards to human health and the environment. Every industrial country in the world has had problems with managing hazardous wastes. Management Program Seattle, Washington  This page is protected from moves until disputes have been resolved on the .The reason for its protection is listed on the protection policy page. E-mail: leo.melendez@metrokc.gov |
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