In the spring of 1991, a community health clinic in the border town of Brownsville, Texas, saw an unusual series of fatal conditions among newborns. Several babies there were born with anencephaly, a rare birth defect in which a fetus has a significant portion of the brain, skull, and scalp missing. By the end of 1992, over 30 cases of anencephaly were reported in and around Brownsville, bringing the region’s number to more than triple the national average.
Exposure to air pollutants, including soot and other industrial emissions, during early pregnancy can increase the risk of anencephaly and other neural tube defects. In the Rio Grande Valley, where Latina mothers are likely to live near heavily polluting industry, environmental exposure becomes a critical maternal health issue.
Stories like this one are the reason Moms Clean Air Force and our Latino engagement program, EcoMadres, continue to support Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán’s congressional resolution “Protecting Latina Maternal and Infant Health From Extreme Heat and Air Pollution.” Barragán first introduced this resolution in the House of Representatives in September 2024, and she reintroduced it last month.
The resolution recognizes the immediate need to support pregnant Latinas and Latino families with tools and knowledge of risks related to air pollution and heat exposure. Additionally, it recommends a variety of critical prevention measures, such as air quality monitoring systems for Latino communities, bilingual public alerts for air quality and extreme heat or weather, education on the unique vulnerabilities of pregnant women to pollution, and professional training for healthcare professionals, educators, and child care providers.
Hispanic mothers are more likely to live in areas with high levels of air pollution and so are at a higher risk for problems during pregnancy compared to non-Hispanic whites. Global warming has supercharged extreme heat, wildfires, and storms—all of which Latina mothers are exposed to at a higher rate than their white counterparts, because they more frequently live in communities without adequate infrastructure to withstand severe weather.
In the Rio Grande Valley, it’s not just industrial pollution; extreme heat is also an outsize concern. The years 2023, 2024, and 2025 all saw record-breaking heat in the region. Heat is not only the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S., it can likewise lead to preterm birth, low birth weight, pregnancy loss, and heat-related stress in newborns.
The majority Latino Rio Grande Valley is one of the poorest and most underserved regions in the country. It is also just one of many places where pregnant Latinas face a combination of pollution exposure and lack of resources. The patterns borne out in South Texas are the reason why efforts like Barragán’s congressional resolution are crucial for improving maternal health for Latina mothers and everyone across the board.
Women and families deserve access to all resources available to protect their health and the health of their children. Join Moms and EcoMadres in advocating for a brighter, healthier future for all.
Tell EPA: We Want Good Neighbors. Protect Our Families From Dangerous Ozone Pollution.