Black and Latino children in Los Angeles County continue to suffer disproportionately from asthma, according to a new report by the LA County Department of Public Health and the Asthma Coalition of Los Angeles County. Based on data from the 2023 LA County Health Survey, the report reveals that 9.5% of Black children and 8% of Latino children have asthma, compared to 6.5% of white children and 4.4% of Asian children.
The disparity is especially severe in South LA, Metro LA, and the South Bay, areas long burdened by air pollution. “It’s been known for a long time that communities of color are worst impacted by air pollution and health impacts like asthma,” said Julia May, senior scientist at Communities for a Better Environment.
Children under five are nearly twice as likely to be taken to the ER for asthma attacks than older children. Poverty compounds the crisis, with families often relying on emergency rooms due to limited access to primary care. Nearly one in five children in poverty had difficulty accessing medical care.
Alicia Rivera, a community organizer in Wilmington, shared stories of children suffering severe asthma attacks late at night. “Sometimes the treatment doesn’t work,” she said, “and parents end up in the emergency room trying to help their children breathe.”
The report calls for culturally appropriate asthma care plans and stronger environmental regulations. “We need a plan to gradually phase out the pollution sources,” May urged, “so that people don’t have to suffer.”
See: “Black and Latino children in LA still hit hardest by asthma, new report shows” (October 16, 2025)
