LULAC Environmental Health
Asthma
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a serious respiratory condition that causes wheezing, chest tightening, and difficulty breathing, and it’s on the rise among Latinos across the country.
Latinos and Asthma:
Over 3.6 million Latinos living in the US currently have asthma.
- Latino children are more likely to die from asthma 40% than non-Latino whites.
- Over 7% of Latino adults currently suffer from asthma.
- Latinos are 30% more likely to visit the hospital for asthma than non-Latino whites.
Asthma Risk Factors:
48% of Latinos in the US live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards.
- 39% of Latinos live within 30 miles of a power plant.
- 15% of Latinos live within 10 miles of a power plant.
Barriers to Treatment:
Without proper treatment, asthma can be life threatening. Compared to non-Latino whites, Latinos with asthma are less likely to be prescribed appropriate asthma medications and less likely to have access to asthma specialists.
The Clean Power Plan:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the biggest step our country has ever taken against climate change. It’s called the Clean Power Plan and it will make big reductions in the carbon pollution from power plants—the key driver of climate change. This pollution that puts our health at risk and endangers our children’s future.
- The EPA expects the plan will deliver tremendous health benefits to the American people, preventing up to 150,000 asthma attacks, 3,300 heart attacks, 2,800 hospital visits for cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, up to 6,600 premature deaths, and 490,000 missed school and work days annually when fully implemented in 2030.
| Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet
Click the title above for our Asthma and Outdoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet in English and Spanish |
| Asthma and Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet
Click the title above for our Asthma and Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet in English and Spanish |
| Health and Climate Change Fact Sheet
Click the title above for our Health and Climate Change Fact Sheet in English and Spanish |
Toxic Chemicals
Environmental Defense Fund's (EDF) Health Program and LULAC are teaming up to launch an education initiative to highlight the serious yet underreported threats linked with toxic chemical exposure that may disproportionately affect the Latino community.
Scientists believe that some chemicals found in the products we use in our homes and in the workplace may be contributing to rising rates of reproductive problems, early puberty, and cancers.
- Asthmagens are numerous chemicals found in indoor environments that cause or exacerbate asthma. These chemicals can be found in building materials and commonly-used household and personal care products. Exposure can occur during product manufacture, installation, and everyday use.
Latinos and Toxic Chemicals:
Residents in Latino communities may be more susceptible to health effects of certain chemicals, more likely to be exposed at home and in the workplace, or both.
- Toxic flame retardants are found in the bodies of more than 98% of Latina women living in the U.S.
- Nearly 1 in 2 Latinos in the U.S. currently live in counties that frequently violate ground-level ozone standards.
- 55% of Latino-Americans live in California, Texas, and Florida – three states that are already experiencing serious effects of climate change, including a historic drought, record-breaking heat, and increased flooding.
| Health and Toxic Chemicals Fact Sheet
Click on the title above to view our Health and Toxic Chemicals Fact Sheet in English and Spanish |
| Cancer and Chemicals Fact Sheet
Click on the title above to view our Cancer and Chemicals Fact Sheet in English and Spanish |
| Latina Health and Toxic Chemicals
Click the title above for our Latina Health and Toxic Chemicals Fact Sheet in English and Spanish |