Latino Environmental Health Project Air Quality Fact Sheet
Latino Environmental Health Project Asthma Fact Sheet
Guia Para Un Hogar Saludable y A Salvo de Plomo para Los Ninos: Todos los niños merecen un lugar saludable para vivir, sea en su propia casa o en una casa alquilada. Por estar pequeños y en el proceso de crecimiento, son más sensibles que los adultos a los peligros del hogar. Este folleto le ayudará a protegerse a sí mismo y a su familia.League of United Latin American Citizens: Air of Injustice, How Air Pollution Affects the Health of Hispanics and Latinos, July 2004: This report confirms what many have feared: Hispanic communities disproportionately suffer health problems that result from living with pollution from power plants. Low-income and minority populations are subject to elevated environmental risks throughout the country, so this finding may not be surprising. But it is factual information that can provide a foundation for change.
Natural Resources Defense Council: Hidden Danger, Environmental Health Threats in the Latino Community, October 2004: Pollution in the United States poses health risks for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, or country of origin. A large percentage of U.S. Latinos, however, live and work in urban and agricultural areas where they face heightened danger of exposure to air pollution, unsafe drinking water, pesticides, and lead and mercury contamination.
New Edition of Hispanic Environmental Health Page Focuses on Pesticides
EPA has released a new Hispanic environmental health page on pesticides in its Spanish-language portal. The page discusses health and environmental issues associated with the proper use of pesticides and informational resources in Spanish and English. This page is part of the Hispanic environmental health page, "El medio ambiente y su salud."
Study: Asthma education aiding inner city Latinos
This study shows that an education program designed for Latino asthma sufferers has shown promise for improving patients' asthma control and quality of life. The study focused on a sample of 198 asthmatic adults living in a predominately Hispanic area of New York City, and it found that a Latino focused asthma education program that included information on managing asthma as a chronic condition and tools for how to avoid common environmental triggers, helped cut hospital visits for asthma attacks and lessen the burden the lung disease put on patients' lives. Overall, the study found, the education program cut patients' emergency room visits by 40 percent and hospitalizations by 36 percent over one year. Study participants also reported gains in quality of life.
New Voices for Change: Environmental Health Issues in Latino Communities of the San Joaquin Valley - Latino Issues Forum (August 2004)
This report captures the realities and personal perspectives of some of the communities most negatively affected by the environmental degradation of the Valley. Moreover, this report marks an unprecedented effort to connect with some of the most remote communities of the Valley. This has allowed us to view how environmental health issues impact their lives and the manner in which various public, private and civic groups respond to their needs. The report includes survey and dialogue feedback of over 370 Latino, predominately Spanish-speaking residents from the Valley. The feedback was gathered through the course of 26 pl‡ticas (community dialogues) conducted throughout the Valley.
Taking Action: Confronting the Health, Social and Environmental Factors Associated with Asthma in the Latino Community - Latino Issues Forum (January 2001)
In 1999, Latino Issues Forum published a report titled, "Confronting Asthma in the Latino Community." This report provided an overview of the impact of asthma in the Latino community. In conjunction with that report, LIF held several community forums bringing together community organizations, health advocates, environmental advocates, and school staff and administration. Based on the information shared and the community response it was evident that not only was asthma an important and serious concern in the community, but that there was very little local data on asthma. Asthma has become a rapidly escalating and deadly issue that encompasses the social, environmental and economic realities of the communities in which many Latinos live. This is the first report to focus on data analysis of asthma in the Latino community, that not only discusses the physical health and health access perspectives but also integrates air quality, housing, and school-related issues.
The Clean Air Color Line - Environmental Working Group (2002)
Residents of predominantly non-Anglo or poorer neighborhoods in California are much more likely to breathe harmful levels of airborne soot and dust than residents of more affluent or white neighborhoods, according to state and federal data analyzed by Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Confronting Asthma in California's Latino Communities - Latino Issues Forum (April 1999)
The purpose of this brief is to illustrate the unique problem of Latinos and asthma. Despite the dramatic increase in asthma cases and the growing costs of asthma, policy makers, health care providers, and schools have been slow to address asthma and the issues that exacerbate asthma, including allergies and pollution. While all of California's communities are affected by rising asthma rates, Latino children in particular are impacted by the growing asthma problem. Geographic concentration in areas with poor air quality, lack of access to quality health care, and communication barriers all exacerbate existing asthma conditions, and contribute to increased illnesses and hospitalizations from asthma. Considering that Latinos are currently the state's fastest growing ethnic group and that within the next forty years they will account for the majority of Californians, the potential impact of asthma on California is enormous.
