Did you know that the average person throws away about 130 grams of waste every day? After a meal at certain fast-food places, this amount can even double! With over seven and a half billion people on Earth, that’s a lot of waste. Luckily, we have an invention that has made life healthier and more comfortable: the toilet.
In nature, animals deal with their waste naturally. However, as of 2017, about 2.4 billion people didn’t have access to proper toilets. This lack of sanitation leads to diseases like dysentery and typhoid, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths each year. Nearly a billion people still have to go to the bathroom in open areas like streets or rivers.
Long ago, everyone managed waste in the open. But as people started farming and living in communities, they needed better ways to handle waste. Around 5,000 years ago, the first known toilets were built in a place called Skara Brae. In the ancient city of Mohenjo Daro, homes had toilets with drains leading to sewers.
Even before we knew about germs, people understood that filth could be dangerous. This instinct to avoid dirtiness is deeply rooted in us. In ancient Rome, there were public toilets, but many people still threw waste into the streets. Over time, people realized that poor sanitation was linked to health problems.
After the Roman Empire fell, people still believed that bad air caused illness, which slowed down toilet innovations. During the Plague, doctors wore masks filled with herbs, thinking it would clean the air.
Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Crapper didn’t invent the flush toilet. John Harington created a device that used water to flush waste away. The modern flush toilet became popular in 1775 when Alexander Cummings invented the S-trap, which keeps sewer gases out of homes.
During the Industrial Revolution, many people still dumped waste in the streets, causing health crises. In 1854, a cholera outbreak in London led Dr. John Snow to discover that contaminated water was the cause. His work eventually changed sanitation practices.
The Great Depression brought improvements in sewage treatment and the introduction of modern toilet paper, leading to the systems we use today. However, 2.4 billion people still lack access to toilets, and nearly 800,000 children die each year from diarrhea-related illnesses.
In 2007, modern sanitation was voted the top medical advancement since 1840, even beating antibiotics and vaccines. While we’ve made progress since 1990, there’s still work to be done. Talking about sanitation can be uncomfortable, but it’s important because everyone deserves access to safe facilities.
In her book “The Big Necessity,” Rose George explains that how a society manages waste reflects how it treats its people. So, let’s remember to wash our hands and stay curious about how we can improve sanitation for everyone.
Thanks to efforts by people like Bill and Melinda Gates, we’ve seen improvements in global health. For example, polio cases have dropped from 350,000 in 1988 to just 34 last year. With continued efforts, we can hope for a future where everyone has access to sanitation and healthcare.
To learn more about ongoing improvements for the world’s poorest, visit gatesletter.com. See you next time!
Research the history of sanitation from ancient times to modern innovations. Create a timeline that highlights key developments and inventions, such as the first toilets in Skara Brae and the invention of the S-trap. Use images and brief descriptions to make your timeline visually appealing and informative.
Design a poster that raises awareness about the importance of sanitation and its impact on health. Include statistics from the article, such as the number of people without access to proper toilets, and emphasize the importance of modern sanitation practices. Use creative visuals and slogans to engage your audience.
Conduct a simple experiment to understand how water contamination can spread diseases. Use safe materials to simulate contaminated water and observe how it affects different environments. Discuss your findings and relate them to Dr. John Snow’s discovery during the cholera outbreak in London.
Write a short story from the perspective of someone living in a time or place with poor sanitation. Describe the challenges they face and how access to proper sanitation could change their life. Use historical facts from the article to make your story realistic and engaging.
Participate in a class debate on whether modern sanitation is the most important medical advancement since 1840, as mentioned in the article. Research other advancements like antibiotics and vaccines, and prepare arguments for or against the statement. Engage in a respectful discussion with your classmates.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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[PBSDS BUMPER] The average person disposes of approximately 130 grams of waste every day. That amount can double after a meal from certain fast-food chains. With seven and a half billion people on Earth, that adds up to a significant amount of waste daily. Fortunately, most of us can ignore this reality, thanks to an invention that has greatly improved health and quality of life throughout history.
[OPEN BUMPER] Animals in the wild handle their waste naturally, but 2.4 billion people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities. Diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, and various infections lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, primarily because one in three people lacked access to toilets and latrines as of 2017. From our comfortable toilets, we often overlook the struggles of many who still face inadequate sanitation. Nearly a billion people still defecate in the open: in streets, bodies of water, or natural areas.
Historically, everyone managed waste this way, but as societies developed agriculture and settled into communities, waste management became a pressing issue. Around five thousand years ago, Neolithic villagers built the first known toilets at Skara Brae. Similarly, many homes in Mohenjo Daro had toilets with drainage systems that emptied into sewers leading to the Indus River. It took thousands of years before we understood the link between germs and disease, but the instinct to avoid filth has deep evolutionary roots.
Bodily waste and unpleasant odors can signal danger or disease, triggering our natural sense of disgust. This instinct influenced the moral codes of various religions, as seen in the Old Testament’s guidance for sanitation practices. In ancient Rome, public toilets existed, but many Romans disposed of waste in the streets. As waste accumulated, the connection between poor sanitation and health issues became apparent.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, the link between foul air and illness persisted, hindering toilet innovation for centuries. During outbreaks like the Plague, doctors wore masks filled with herbs to “cleanse” the air, mistakenly believing it was the source of disease.
Contrary to popular belief, the flush toilet was not invented by Thomas Crapper; that credit goes to John Harington, who created a device that emptied the bowl using water from an overhead tank. The modern flush toilet became popular in 1775 when Alexander Cummings introduced the S-trap, which prevents sewer gases from entering homes.
During the Industrial Revolution, many people still disposed of waste in streets and cesspools, leading to public health crises. In 1854, cholera struck London, and Dr. John Snow proposed that contaminated drinking water was the cause. His mapping of cholera cases led to significant changes in sanitation practices, although it took decades for his ideas to gain acceptance.
The Great Depression saw advancements in sewage treatment and the introduction of modern toilet paper, leading to the sanitation systems we use today. However, this progress allows us to overlook the 2.4 billion people who still lack access to toilets. Nearly 800,000 children under five die each year from diarrhea-related illnesses, which is more than deaths from AIDS or malaria combined.
In 2007, readers of the BMJ voted “modern sanitation” as the top medical advancement since 1840, surpassing antibiotics and vaccines. While we have made progress since 1990, with more people gaining access to sanitation, the issue is far from resolved.
As a society, we often find it difficult to discuss sanitation openly, which can lead to stigmas surrounding the topic. In her book “The Big Necessity,” Rose George notes that how a society manages human waste reflects its treatment of people. Everyone deserves safe sanitation.
Stay curious! And please remember to wash your hands after using the restroom.
Thank you for watching and learning with us. This week’s video addressed an important topic, supported by Bill and Melinda Gates, who have worked to improve global health and quality of life through innovation and education. Since 1990, their efforts have contributed to saving an estimated 122 million children’s lives through better nutrition, family planning, and vaccines.
For example, in 1988, there were over 350,000 cases of polio, but last year, that number dropped to just 34. Progress is being made, and with continued efforts, we can strive for a future where everyone has access to sanitation and health care.
Visit gatesletter.com to read Bill and Melinda Gates’ Annual Letter and learn more about ongoing improvements for the world’s poorest.
See you next time!
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This version maintains the core message while removing explicit references and language.
Sanitation – The process of keeping places clean and healthy, especially by removing waste and providing clean water. – In the 19th century, improvements in sanitation helped reduce the spread of diseases in crowded cities.
Health – The state of being free from illness or injury. – Regular exercise and a balanced diet are important for maintaining good health.
Waste – Unwanted or unusable materials that are left over after something is made or used. – Proper disposal of waste is crucial to prevent pollution and protect public health.
Toilets – Facilities for disposing of human waste, which are essential for maintaining hygiene and preventing disease. – The invention of flush toilets significantly improved sanitation in urban areas.
Diseases – Illnesses or conditions that affect the health of people, animals, or plants. – Vaccines have been developed to protect people from many infectious diseases.
Germs – Microorganisms, especially those that can cause disease. – Washing hands regularly helps to remove germs and prevent illness.
Innovations – New methods, ideas, or products that bring improvements or solve problems. – Innovations in medical technology have greatly improved the ability to diagnose and treat diseases.
Cholera – A serious infectious disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, often spread through contaminated water. – In the 1800s, cholera outbreaks were common in areas with poor sanitation.
Hygiene – Practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases, especially through cleanliness. – Good personal hygiene, like brushing teeth and bathing regularly, is important for overall health.
Communities – Groups of people living in the same area or having a particular characteristic in common. – Communities often work together to improve public health by organizing clean-up events and health education programs.
