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Hispanic Current Events: Latinos Applaud EPA’s Updated Air Quality Standards
“Voces Verdes” is applauding the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for finalizing air quality standards for fine particulate matter, or soot. Voces Verdes is the independent, non-partisan voice of Latino leaders for the environment.
According to Voces, the new stronger soot protections will make our air cleaner nationwide and reduce health problems across the country including preventing approximately 15,000 premature deaths every year.
“For Latino families struggling with the impacts of air pollution and the heavy burden of health care costs, these updated standards are a welcome and much needed,” said Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association.
The new standards are expected to save $118 billion in health costs annually.
Voces is a growing coalition of Latino leaders who are advocating for sound environmental policy that balances economic needs.
Soot particles are released into the air by burning dirty fuels like coal. Soot is made up very small particles of dangerous metals and chemicals that can deposit deep within the lungs and enter the blood stream.
Soot is released from smokestacks, diesel trucks, wood-burning stoves and other sources and contributes to haze. “For the large Latino community that lives in areas where there is heavy diesel truck traffic and the neighborhoods that are surrounded by smokestacks, this updated standard is urgently needed,” said Mark Magana of the National Latino Coalition on Climate Change.
Published in Latino Daily News
2012-12-17 14:13:46
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