Visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm or call (202) 564-2188.

Demographics

Children’s Environmental Health Disparities:

Black and African American Children and Asthma

This fact sheet focuses on relationship between environment and asthma among Black and African American 

children. This fact sheet also provides important actions that can be taken to protect all children. 

Pollution in the environment may 

harm children more than adults. This 

is because children’s bodies are still 

growing. Also, they eat more, drink 

more, and breathe more in proportion to their body size than adults. 

And children’s normal behavior can 

expose them more to pollution. This 

means that exposure to a given 

amount of pollution results in a larger 

quantity of the pollutant in children’s 

bodies compared to adults. 

Children of racial and ethnic 

minorities and poor children may be 

exposed to more pollution.93 Thus, 

they may face the biggest health 

risks from pollution. This fact sheet 

describes Black and African American children’s environmental health 

risks related to asthma. It also tells 

you how you can take actions to 

protect all children. 

The burdens of asthma fall more 

heavily on Black children. In 2001-

2005, Black children, regardless of 

family income, reported higher rates 

of asthma. Thirteen percent of Black 

children had asthma. This compares 

to 8% of White, 8% of Hispanic, and 

12% of American Indians and Alaskan Natives children. (See Figure 1.)14 

Since 1980, the difference in asthma 

rates between Black and White 

children has become larger.15 Black 

children are twice as likely to be 

hospitalized for asthma and are four 

times as likely to die from asthma as 

White children.16,17 

What is Asthma? 

Asthma is caused by the narrowing or blocking of the lung airways. 

People with asthma often have trouble breathing. They may experience 

wheezing and shortness of breath. 

They may feel pain or tightness in 

the chest and cough at night or early 

morning.13 However, children can 

have symptoms at anytime.84 

Asthma is a leading chronic disease affecting children. About 6.5 

million children in the United States 

have asthma.103 It is a major reason 

for children going to the hospital or 

being absent from school. 

Asthma rates have increased 

worldwide.85 The US rate increased 

75% from 1980 to 1994. The largest increase was among children up 

to 4 years old (160%). Rates among 

children 5 to 14 years old increased 

by 74%.86 

Increases in asthma rates among 

poor minorities have been even 

larger than the averages. They have 

also had larger increases in deaths 

from asthma.87 

Asthma is a complex disease with 

a number of causes. Some children 

may inherit a tendency to develop 

asthma. Racial and ethnic differences 

in the burden of asthma may be 

related to social and economic status, 

access to health care, and exposure 

to environmental triggers.13 

Asthma Triggers 

Asthma cannot be cured. However, people with asthma can manage the disease by avoiding triggers, 

both indoors and outdoors and using 

medications.18 Triggers are objects 

or pollutants that cause asthma 

symptoms (e.g. shortness of breath, 

cough, wheezing and chest tightness 

in someone who already has developed asthma) or make them worse.18 

n Indoor Triggers: Secondhand 

smoke, dust mites, cockroaches, pets with fur or feathers, household pests, mold, 

household sprays, and nitrogen 

dioxide (from gas appliances) 

can make asthma worse and/or 

provoke asthma attacks.19, 20, 88 

Visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm or call (202) 564-2188. 

Asthma 
Figure 1: Percentage of Children Under 18 with Asthma, 2000-2005 

*

0 5 

* 

* 

All 

Poor 

Near Poor 

Nonpoor 

All 

Poor 

Near Poor 

Nonpoor 

All 

All 

All 

Poor 

Near Poor 

Nonpoor 

Near Poor 

Nonpoor 

INCOME 

Nonpoor 

Non-Hispanic Black 

Non-Hispanic White 

Hispanic 

** Asian 

**American Indian/ 

Alaska Native 

10 15 20 

SOURCE: National Center for Health Statistics http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/health_data_for_all_ages.htm RACE ETHNICITY 

Watch for the Air Quality Index 

during your local weather report. The 

index uses colors to show how much 

pollution is in the air. Green and yellow mean air pollution levels are low. 

Orange, red, or purple mean pollution 

is at levels that may make asthma 

worse. (See Figure 2.) 

Black children have nearly 

two times the rates of current 

asthma as White children. 

State agencies use TV and radio 

to warn the public of ozone alerts. 

On Ozone Action Days, people with 

asthma should spend less time being 

active outdoors. Early mornings or 

late evenings are better times for 

outdoor activities when ozone is 

expected to be high. 

Many communities have programs 

and resources to help families. Find 

a community asthma program near 

you by visiting the Communities 

in Action for Asthma-Friendly 

Environments Network at http:// 

www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org. If 

you work with a community asthma 

program, join the Network to have 

access to information, tools, and 

proven strategies for improving the 

health of people with asthma. 

* Unreliable data 

** Includes Hispanics 

n Outdoor Triggers: High levels 

of air pollution (ozone, nitrogen 

oxides, acidic aerosols, and 

fine particles) in the air are also 

associated with making asthma 

symptoms worse.21, 22, 89 These 

pollutants come from smoke, 

dust, and emissions from cars, 

factories, and power plants. 

Exposure to high levels of ozone 

may trigger asthma attacks or 

cause children to develop asthma. The risk is greatest when 

child’s asthma, and ways to help 

your child avoid these triggers at 

home, school, and play. Work with 

your child’s doctor to develop an 

asthma management plan. Be sure 

to share a copy of the plan with your 

child’s teacher and school nurse. For 

more information on indoor asthma 

triggers and developing an asthma 

management plan, visit http://www. 

epa.gov/iaq/asthma/triggers.html 

Figure 2: US EPA’s Air Quality Index color codes. 

children exercise or play sports 

outdoors when ozone levels are 

high.23 Ozone levels are usually highest in summer. Particle 

pollution can be high any time 

of year and is higher near busy 51 to 100 Moderate Yellow 

roads. 

Air Quality Index 

(AQI) Values 

Levels of Health Concern Colors 

When the AQI 

is in this range: ...air quality conditions are: ...as symbolized 

by this color: 

0 to 50 Good Green 

101 to 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups Orange 

151 to 200 Unhealthy Red 

201 to 300 Very Unhealthy Purple 

301 to 500 Hazardous Maroon 

What Can You Do? 

If your child has asthma or you 

suspect he or she has asthma, visit 

a doctor. Ask the doctor to help you 

learn which triggers affect your SOURCE: US EPA’s AirNow website http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=static.aqi 

Visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm or call (202) 564-2188. 
Visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm or call (202) 564-2188.

Demographics

Get involved with groups that 

promote policies to improve air quality. For example, some groups work 

to prohibit smoking in public places. 

Others work with local governments 

to help improve air quality. 

An example of a successful community organization is Detroiters 

Working for Environmental Justice 

(DWEJ). They convinced the city 

to buy new vehicles for its fleet 

that run on “clean” fuels instead of 

diesel. The new vehicles improve 

air quality. DWEJ accomplished 

this through a number of activities. 

They presented local air quality 

data at city council meetings. They 

held community meetings around 

Detroit and invited state and city 

officials. They helped citizens write 

comments to the Metropolitan Planning Organization. And they helped 

citizens get appointed to the Detroit 

Department of Transportation community board. For more information 

on DWEJ visit http://www.dwej.org/ or 

call 313-833-DWEJ (3935). 

What’s Being Done? 

Here are some examples of efforts 

by Federal governmental agencies, 

local and national organizations to 

childhood asthma. 

EPA’s Asthma Initiative supports 

research, education, and public outreach to help people with asthma. 

Learn more at www.epa.gov/asthma. 

EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for 

Schools Program helps schools identify and prevent environmental asthma 

triggers. It also promotes healthy 

school environments. For more information visit http://epa.gov/iaq/schools. 

Black children are two times 

as likely to be hospitalized for

asthma and are four times 

as likely to die from asthma 

as White children.

EPA’s Asthma Home Environment Checklist gives explains how to 

conduct home environmental assessments. This checklist can help 

identify asthma triggers in the home. 

For a copy of the checklist visit http:// 

www.epa.gov/asthma/pdfs/home_environment_checklist.pdf. 

The Community Asthma Education Prevention Program (CAPP) 

of Philadelphia provides asthma 

education classes to patients and 

their families, child care providers, 

and school personnel. CAPP also 

provides in home environmental assessments to eligible patients. For 

more information please email CAPP 

at cap@email.chop.edu or call (215) 

590-5621. 

Allies Against Asthma (AAA) helps 

community groups concerned about 

asthma in children. AAA also provides 

lists of asthma education programs 

across the US. For more information 

about asthma programs in your area 

visit: http://www.asthma.umich.edu/index.html or call 734-615-3312. 

The New England Asthma Regional Council promotes healthy housing, 

healthy schools, and home assessments to identify and reduce asthma 

triggers. In addition, the Council is 

building an asthma tracking system 

across New England which links 

health data with environment data. 

For more information visit: http:// 

www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org or call 

617-451-0049 x504. 

Visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm or call (202) 564-2188. 

Asthma 
EPA100F08029 

RESOURCES: 

For more information on children’s environmental health, visit the 

EPA’s Office of Children’s Health Protection and Environmental Education at http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm. You can also call the office at (202) 564–2188. 

n America’s Children and the Environment data/indicators, http://www. 

epa.gov/envirohealth/children/index.htm 

n Office of Minority Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/omh/ 

n Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units, www.aoec.org/ 

PEHSU.htm or call toll free 1–888–347–2632 

n Environmental Management of Pediatric Asthma: Guidelines for 

Health Care Providers, http://www.neefusa.org/health/asthma/ 

asthmaguidelines.htm 

n National Center on Minority Health and Health 

Disparities, National Institutes of Health, 

http://ncmhd.nih.gov/ 

n African American Health Care and Medical Information, http:// 

www.blackhealthcare.com 

n African American Health Network, National Medical Association, 

http://www.aahn.com 

n Kaiser Family Foundation Health Disparities Report: 

A Weekly Look at Race, Ethnicity and Health/ http:// 

kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_disparities.cfm. 

n DiversityData, Harvard School of Public Health website on 

indicators of how people of different racial/ethnic backgrounds live 

includes comparative data about housing, neighborhood conditions, 

residential integration, and education, www.DiversityData.org 

n Unnatural Causes, a TV documentary series and public outreach 

campaign on the causes of socioeconomic racial/ethnic inequities s 

in health, http://www.unnaturalcauses.org/ 

Visit http://yosemite.epa.gov/ochp/ochpweb.nsf/content/homepage.htm or call (202) 564-2188.