In our experience, many organizations and governing bodies do not widely view Environmental Justice as directly connected to Health and Wellness, but we view these two issues as inextricably intertwined. This program seeks to address environmental issues along with education, employment, housing and transportation. In this way we can successfully address the disproportionately negative impacts of SDOH on the health and well-being of Latinx and other communities of color.
Research has shown there is significant correlation between specific environmental factors and increased rates of disease states such as disproportionate rates of asthma, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in the Latinx community, all of which additionally contribute to Latinos’ greater case rates, severity, and death rates from COVID-19.
The Baltimore Washington Region (BWR) is home to some of the wealthiest and poorest communities in America, and the environmental impact falls heavily on areas with high proportions of people of color.
In 2018, 2.3 million Hispanics reported that they currently have asthma according to the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health. Hispanics are twice as likely to visit the emergency department for asthma, as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Hispanic children are 40 percent more likely to die from asthma, as compared to non-Hispanic whites. While all of the causes of asthma remain unclear, children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke and higher levels of exposure are at increased risk for acute lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis.
Children living below or near the poverty level are more likely to have high levels of blood cotinine, a breakdown product of nicotine, than children living in higher income families.
Pollutants like particulate matter (often referred to as particle pollution), ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and lead, are all extremely harmful for human health and the environment.
Environmental Racism means that many Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities face disproportionate hazards when it comes to air quality, and water quality. All of which have impacted health in Latinx communities across the state, making them more vulnerable to Covid-19 infections and morbidity as a result of weakened immune systems and chronic conditions related to pollutants/contaminants in the places they lived and worked.
Enter our blog and learn about stories, articles, infographics and videos about Environmental Health in the Latino community in Maryland. You will also find a directory of institutions that can provide you with the support you need depending on the area in which you are.
Go to DirectoryThese are the institutions that help us coordinate aid to communities at risk. Click on each logo to be redirected to their own websites.
LHEA promote equitable social, economic, and environmental conditions to achieve optimal health, mental health, and well-being for all, with a focus on Latino communities across the state.