Health of Latino Americans at Risk Due to Lack of Air Pollution Rules, Report Shows

A new report released today urges U.S. officials to adopt stronger standards under the Clean Air Act and let EPA do its job in setting limits on certain pollutants. The findings revealed that one in two Hispanic Americans living in counties that frequently violate air pollution standards face major health risks.

The report, titled “U.S. Latinos and Air Pollution: A Call to Action,” comes just days after President Obama pulled back the EPA's stronger standard for ozone.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), with each breath Latinos increase their risk of asthma or bronchitis, or even death due to poor air quality. Latinos are reportedly three times more likely to die from asthma than other racial or ethnic groups.

Affected areas highlighted in the report are major markets that are home to large numbers of Latinos in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas, among other states.

"Latinos want clean air and a strong economy," said Jorge Madrid, Research Associate at the Center for American Progress, "we are the fastest growing group of voters in the U.S., and we need to know our leaders in Washington are fighting to protect our health and grow jobs -- those two things are not mutually exclusive."

If approved, the pending EPA mercury rule would reportedly protect the nearly 40 percent of Latinos living within 30 miles of a power plant.

What’s more, clean air rules would also benefit the economy. The EPA projects that the proposed mercury and air toxics standards will create up to 31,000 short-term construction jobs and 9,000 long-term utility jobs.

Considering that, on average, Hispanic workers occupy two out of every three new construction jobs in the United States, these standards could help thousands of Latino families currently facing financial issues.

The report also states that bilingual (ENglish and Spanish) fish consumption advisories should be posted in grocery stores and Latino markets, as well as in public clinics.

"Latinos are especially vulnerable because they live in regions with the worst air contamination and air-related illnesses mean missed school and work days, emergency room visits, and jobs lost," said Adrianna Quintero, advisor to Voces Verdes and senior attorney with NRDC. "Americans can't afford this burden on their wallets in these hard times. The administration cannot keep putting profits before people."