# Latino Groups Want Clean Air for Healthy Families

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/03/latino-groups-want-clean-air-for-healthy-families/
- Published: 2011-03-31T21:54:58-04:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

## Latino Leaders Urge Congress to Protect Clean Air

Let’s just say it: Latino groups want clean air now. For a coalition led by the 
NRDC and several national Latino organizations recently asked Congress to safeguard
clean air standards. They highlighted the urgent need to [preserve](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/04/carmel-by-the-sea-restaurants-announce-new-verified-clean-air-program/)
the Clean Air Act and defend public health.

### Disproportionate Impacts on Latino Communities so groups want Clean Air

 1. Latino groups and families explained, they are who often [bear the brunt](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/05/nyserda-awards-contracts-to-14-constituency-based-groups-to-spur-energy-efficiency-improvements-new-york-house/)
    of negative clean air pollution impacts. Many live near highways, industrial zones,
    and farms—zones linked to elevated smog and toxic emissions. As a result, they 
    experience higher rates of asthma, respiratory illness, and other serious health
    issues.

![Infographic titled “Latino Leaders Call on Congress to Protect Clean Air,” with
four bold sections highlighting disproportionate impacts, calls for action, economic
and health benefits, and the moral imperative of clean air legislation.](https://
i0.wp.com/greenlivingguy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/E683FF64-A522-4DC9-AD65-
3E439AEB30EC.png?resize=736%2C1104&quality=50&ssl=1)

Latino leaders and national organizations urge Congress to uphold the Clean Air 
Act, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger pollution standards to protect vulnerable
communities.

### Calls for Action

The Latino groups urged lawmakers wanting to strengthen clean air standards—especially
for [smog](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/12/smog-and-poor-air-quality-more-frequent-in-the-winter/),
[mercury](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/12/mercury-air-toxic-standards-epa-issues-first-for-mercury-pollution-from-power-plants/),
and air toxics. They want stricter regulations under the Clean Air Act, guided by
science and legal mandate. Specifically, they pushed for updated smog limits and
tighter mercury controls on power plants.

### Latino Groups Want Clean Air : Economic and Health Benefits

Stronger air rules don’t just improve health—they save money. By cutting pollution,
we reduce medical costs, prevent sick days, and boost productivity. Moreover, communities
of color—like many Latino groups and neighborhoods want clean air.  Well, this could
avoid the worst health disparities linked to air quality.

### A Moral Imperative

“This fight is about fairness,” they stated. Protecting vulnerable populations isn’t
just good policy—it’s right. As pollution control measures have already proven, 
effective regulation protects lives and promotes equity. If leaders delay or weaken
protections, they risk putting health over politics.

For Latinos,, the impacts would be even more serious. In the U.S. today, one out
of every 10 children are affected by asthma, a staggering number in itself. Latino
children, however, fare far worse being 60% more likely to develop asthma than non-
Hispanic white children. Sadly, Latinos are also three times as likely to die of
asthma as white non-Hispanics.

### Sources:

 1. [Latino Communities](https://greenlivingguy.com/2011/09/latino-communities-struggle-with-health-disparities/)
    and Air Pollution – Center for American Progress
     Latino populations often live
    in areas with high levels of air pollution, increasing their risk for asthma and
    other respiratory issues. [https://www.americanprogress.org/article/latino-communities-face-disproportionate-health-burdens-from-air-pollution/](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/latino-communities-face-disproportionate-health-burdens-from-air-pollution/)
 2. Clean Air Act Benefits – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
     The EPA estimates
    that Clean Air Act programs have significantly reduced air pollution while delivering
    trillions of dollars in public health benefits. [https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-benefits](https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-benefits)