What was one of the primary issues causing disease outbreaks in industrial cities?

Inadequate sanitation systems were a primary issue that contributed to disease outbreaks in industrial cities during the Industrial Revolution. As cities grew rapidly due to industrialization, the infrastructure needed to support such a large population often lagged behind. Many urban areas lacked proper sewage systems, which meant that waste was often dumped in the streets or nearby waterways. This not only created unsanitary living conditions but also facilitated the spread of diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever, as human waste contaminating the environment led to serious public health crises.

While high population density, unclean drinking water, and waste management failures all played significant roles in the health issues of the time, the failure of cities to implement adequate sanitation systems was a foundational problem. The absence of proper sewage systems made it impossible to effectively address the other issues, as contaminated water sources and overflowing waste exacerbated the health risks for the densely packed populations. Therefore, the inadequate sanitation systems directly impacted public health by fostering environments where diseases could thrive and spread rapidly.