Diabetes and the State Capital

Response to Lockwood

In a recent letter in Diabetes Care, Lockwood (1) pointed out that there was a strong correlation (r = 0.54, P = 0.000057) between the statewide self-reported diabetes prevalence in 2000 and the total statewide air toxic release inventory (TRI) in 1999 for the 50 states and Washington, D.C. He pointed out that “[although] […] the correlation between air emissions and the prevalence of diabetes does not prove a cause-and-effect relationship, the significance of the relationship demands attention.”

I agree that the correlation does not prove …