Latinos are among the U.S. ethnic groups hardest hit by air pollution, according to a recent report from the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change (NLCCC), Center for American Progress, National Resources Defense Council and National Wildlife Federation. The report was published in www.HealthNewsDigest.com
The groups found that Latinos face a disproportionately large air pollution risk than even other minority groups. According to the report, “U.S. Latinos and Air Pollution: A Call to Action,” Latinos face increased health care costs, more lost days at school and work, and a shorter life expectancy due to increased exposure to air pollution.
A total of 26.6 percent of U.S. Hispanics live in counties that violate the federal government’s 24-hour standards for fine particulate matter, the greatest percentage of any ethnic group, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, 48.4 percent of Hispanics live in counties that frequently violated eight-hour ground-level ozone standards.
“The increased exposure to air pollution makes Latino families more vulnerable to health problems associated with air pollutants such as low birth weight and asthma attacks,” according to a recent report by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). “Factors such as poverty, language barriers and lack of access to health care increase the danger.”
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