Archived
June, 2007 |
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Hispanic Health Program
ATSDR HISPANIC HEALTH PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM?
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Among Hispanic/Latino
families, challenges remain in understanding acute and chronic
health concerns associated with disparities involving their
occupations, environment, economics, education, culture, language,
and migration patterns/immigration status. |
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Hispanic/Latino children are
more likely than non-Hispanic white children to live in poverty and
experience a disproportionate burden of infant mortality, low-birth
weight, asthma, endocrine, neurological, and behavioral disorders
which may be associated with exposure to hazardous substances. |
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Hispanics/Latinos face high
rates of exposure to toxic substances, including the top four
threats to human health: ambient air pollution, worker exposure to
chemicals, indoor air pollution and drinking water. |
WHAT HAS ATSDR
ACCOMPLISHED?
ATSDR has developed the
ATSDR Hispanic Health Program to address health concerns that may
be associated with the environmental impact of hazardous substances on
Hispanic/Latino populations and to eliminate disparities. The Program evolved
from a series of federal efforts to address the overall health concerns
and health disparities prevalent among Hispanics/Latinos and to improve their
health.
Examples of programs in action: |
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ATSDR en Español
was created to serve Spanish-reading communities. The site features a
Spanish version of the Web site of ATSDR’s Ombudsman. This is the first
Federal Ombudsman’s office to be broadcast in Spanish. |
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A Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between The University of Texas Health Science Center
at San Antonio on behalf of The Lower Rio Grande Valley Regional Academic
Health Center and ATSDR provides a framework for educational initiatives
that help translate scientific knowledge into effective action in the
field of environmental health and medicine. (Activities listed are in
response to Presidential Executive Orders # 13166, 12898, and 13230). |
WHAT ARE THE NEXT
STEPS?
Continue to implement the
ATSDR Hispanic Health Program thus responding to health disparities
with emphasis on environmental and occupational health concerns related to
diseases, dysfunction, disability, and premature death among Hispanics/Latinos.
For more information, contact the Office of Urban
Affairs, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Mailstop
E28, Executive Park, Building 37, Atlanta, GA 30333: (404)
498-0111:
ncg3@cdc.gov:
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/mhp1.html. |
Back to the Hispanic/Latino Populations Page
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