Eamranond Pracha P, Hu Howard
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Environ Health Insights. 2008 Sep 23;1:45-50. doi: 10.4137/ehi.s847.
Immigrants comprise vulnerable populations that are frequently exposed to a multitude of environmental and occupational hazards. The historical context behind state and federal legislation has helped to foster an environment that is particularly hostile toward caring for immigrant health. Current hazards include toxic exposures, air and noise pollution, motor vehicle accidents, crowded living and work environments with inadequate ventilation, poor sanitation, mechanical injury, among many others. Immigrants lack the appropriate training, materials, health care access, and other resources to reduce their exposure to preventable environmental and occupational health risks. This dilemma is exacerbated by current anti-immigrant sentiments, miscommunication between native and immigrant populations, and legislation denying immigrants access to publicly funded medical care. Given that current health policy has failed to address immigrant health appropriately and political impetus is lacking, efforts should also focus on alternative solutions, including organized labor. Labor unions that serve to educate workers, survey work environments, and defend worker rights will greatly alleviate and prevent the burden of disease incurred by immigrants. The nation's health will benefit from improved regulation of living and workplace environments to improve the health of immigrants, regardless of legal status.
移民构成了弱势群体，他们经常面临多种环境和职业危害。州和联邦立法背后的历史背景助长了一种对照顾移民健康特别不利的环境。当前的危害包括接触有毒物质、空气和噪音污染、机动车事故、通风不足的拥挤生活和工作环境、卫生条件差、机械伤害等等。移民缺乏适当的培训、物资、医疗保健渠道以及其他资源来减少接触可预防的环境和职业健康风险。当前的反移民情绪、本地人和移民群体之间的沟通不畅以及拒绝移民获得公共资助医疗保健的立法加剧了这一困境。鉴于当前的卫生政策未能妥善解决移民健康问题且缺乏政治动力，努力还应侧重于替代解决方案，包括有组织的劳工。旨在教育工人、调查工作环境和维护工人权利的工会将极大地减轻并预防移民所遭受的疾病负担。无论法律地位如何，改善生活和工作场所环境的监管以增进移民健康将有益于国家的健康。
