Latino communities in Texas are disproportionately exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution, according to a new report from the Hispanic Access Foundation, raising concerns about environmental justice and public health.
The study, part of the community science initiative El Aire Que Respiramos (The Air We Breathe), found that several Texas cities with large Latino populations — including Weslaco, McAllen and El Paso — experienced levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, near or above the Environmental Protection Agency’s annual safety limit of 9 micrograms per cubic meter.
PM2.5 particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream and are linked to asthma, heart disease, stroke and lung cancer, researchers said. Latino children are especially at risk, with asthma-related emergency visits nearly twice as high as for non-Hispanic white children.
Manuel Lopez, a community organizer in Weslaco, said many residents are unaware of the health risks posed by poor air quality. “We want people to know what’s in the air they’re breathing and how it affects their families,” he said.
The study highlighted multiple sources of pollution, including vehicle exhaust, industrial facilities, fossil fuel combustion and agricultural fires. Communities located near industrial corridors, such as the Houston Ship Channel, face some of the highest exposure levels in the state, researchers said.
“This is an environmental justice issue,” said Dr. Maria Sanchez, a public health researcher involved in the project. “Latino and low-income neighborhoods often bear the brunt of pollution while receiving few of the economic benefits from nearby industries.”
Community science efforts aim to provide localized air quality data in Spanish and English, helping residents advocate for stricter emissions regulations and cleaner air. The report is part of a broader push for environmental equity in Texas and nationwide.