National Study of Hispanics on
Environmental Issues
June 2011
2
Methodology
Sample size
1,000 Hispanics nationally
Over-samples in Florida, Colorado,
New Mexico, and Nevada
Dates of interviews
March 20-30, 2008
Margin of error
+/- 3 percentage points
Languages of interviews English, Spanish
3
Major Findings
4
Major Findings
• When it comes to the environment, most Hispanics
think air and water pollution is the most important
problem for them and their family.
• Most Hispanics are not aware of any toxic sites close
to their home or workplace.
• Almost all Hispanics interviewed believe that
outdoor activities are important to them and their
families.
5
Major Findings
• The most popular outdoor activities among
Hispanics are going to the beach and exploring
national parks.
• Almost one-third of Hispanics say they prefer to go
fishing in lakes, and most of them prefer to go with a
family member instead of friends or co-workers.
Hispanics also have a tendency to eat what they
catch.
6
When it comes to the environment, which are the two most
important problems to you and your family?
(Allow for two choices)
51%
Polluted air and water
43%
Energy and global warming
17%
The destruction of our wilderness…
14%
Toxic waste sites
12%
Toxic lead and mercury poisoning
1%
Something else
2%
Don't know/ No answer
0%
20%
40%
60%
7
Are you aware of any toxic sites close to your home or place of
work, such as a refinery, a chemical plant, an incinerator, an
agricultural field, a major highway, or a factory?
34%
Yes
No
66%
8
How important are outdoor activities – like fishing, hunting,
camping or visiting national parks – to you and your family?
70%
61%
60%
50%
40%
27%
30%
11%
20%
1%
10%
0%
Very important
Somewhat
important
Not important
Don't know/ No
answer
9
Which are the two most popular outdoor activities of your family?
(Allow for two choices)
36%
Going to the beach
31%
Exploring national parks
27%
Picnics
20%
Fishing
17%
Camping
10%
Hiking
6%
Something else
4%
Hunting
1%
Don't know/ No answer
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
10
How often do you go fishing?
49%
50%
40%
30%
20%
21%
19%
10%
10%
1%
0%
Very often
Once in a
while
Very seldom
Never
Don't know/
No answer
11
Where do you fish?
(Asked only of respondents who fish “very often” or “once in a while”)
50%
39%
40%
32%
24%
30%
20%
5%
10%
1%
0%
Lake
Ocean
River
Somewhere Don't know/
else
No answer
12
Who do you go fishing with?
(Asked only of respondents who fish “very often” or “once in a while”)
30%
Son/ Daughter
22%
Friends
14%
Other relative
9%
9%
8%
Other person
Father/ Mother
Brother/ Sister
2%
2%
1%
3%
Co-workers
Cousin
Aunt/ Uncle
No answer
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
13
Do you eat the fish that you catch?
(Asked only of respondents who fish “very often” or “once in a while”)
1%
23%
Yes
No
Don't know/ No answer
76%
14
Why This is Significant
15
Why This is Significant
• The EPA’s proposed strong new air quality standards for
life-threatening hazardous air pollution from power
plants, including mercury, is progress, however, there is
still not much signage in waterways advising fishermen
of these new standards. The survey demonstrates the
need for signs in English and Spanish to warn Hispanics
of this potential hazard, since one-third of them fish on a
regular basis, and the vast majority of those eat what
they catch. Even though the survey was taken in 2008,
the findings remain accurate because they measured
habits which rarely change over such a short period of
time.
16
Demographics
17
Age
50%
40%
30%
30%
25%
28%
17%
20%
10%
0%
18 to 34 years
old
35 to 49 years
old
50 to 64 years
old
65 years old or
over
18
Gender
47%
Male
53%
Female
19
Language of Interview
37%
Spanish
English
63%
20
Region
60%
50%
37%
36%
40%
30%
19%
20%
8%
10%
0%
West
South
Northeast
Midwest
21
Annual Household Income
60%
50%
40%
37%
36%
30%
19%
19%
20%
8%
10%
0%
Less than
$25,000
$25,000 to
$50,000
$50,000 to
$100,000
$100,000 or
more
No answer