Environmental and Occupational Health Disparities Among Hispanic/Latino Populations

Hispanics have emerged as the largest minority group in the United States. Various Federal efforts have been initiated in response to the growing needs of this diverse and rapidly expanding population. Examples of these efforts include the HHS Initiative Hispanic Agenda for Action (HAA), Presidential Executive Orders: 12898 – Environmental Justice (EJ), 13171 – Hispanic Employment in the Federal Workforce (HEFW), 13230 – Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans (EEHA), and 13166 – Persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP).

Studies have found that a disproportionate number of Hispanics live in close proximity to hazardous waste sites which increases their risk for potential adverse health effects from exposure to toxic and hazardous chemicals. Many Hispanics work in high-risk, low-wage occupations, which further expose them to environmental, occupational, and safety hazards, and increase their risk for illness, injuries, disabilities or premature death. For example, pesticide exposures cause over 300,000 cases of toxicity and 1,000 deaths annually in farm workers in the United States. These are primarily Hispanics.

Challenges remain in understanding the demographic, economic, educational, and other social disparities that impact the National efforts to address Hispanic health. Furthermore, health, particularly environmental and occupational health, concerns related to disease, dysfunction, disability, and premature death need targeted attention.