Dengue, related to rubble and building construction in Brazil.
The fast-growing formation of solid waste, resulting from demographic density, presents itself as one of the most pressing problems to be addressed by governments of large cities all over the world. In Rio de Janeiro, 60% of solid waste stems from the construction industry. Although envisaged by under current municipal legislation, no application of policy regarding systematic recycling of this kind of waste exists in fact. Both sanitation experts and epidemiologists highlight that the deficient sanitary system contributes to the growth of endemic breeding sites, which may reach epidemic proportions. In Brazil, over the recent years, there has been an increase of Dengue Fever cases followed by deaths. In the first half of 2008, the State of Rio de Janeiro was plagued by an intense Dengue epidemic. The city of Rio de Janeiro alone accounted for 48.7% of the cases, in absolute values. By drawing upon an analytical method based on the interrelation between health and sanitation, the outcomes herein indicate that the city of Rio de Janeiro bears a direct relation between Dengue incidence rates and rubble formation from construction - measured by the total area built. Thus, there is a strong urge to implement recycling systems out of construction rubble as a sanitation measure in order to promote Dengue incidence reduction.
Sampaio
Angela Maria Marques
AM
Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480/723 - 21041.210 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil. amsampaio@ensp.fiocruz.br
Kligerman
Débora Cynamon
DC
Júnior
Sílvio Ferreira
SF
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000382:microbiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009032:Mosquito Control; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014866:Waste Products / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014866:Waste Products