Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 455, Sao Paulo, SP, 01246-903, Brazil.
Department of Environmental Health, University of Sao Paulo School of Public Health, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, Sao Paulo, SP, 715, Brazil.
Curr Environ Health Rep. 2022 Jun;9(2):152-164. doi: 10.1007/s40572-022-00341-z. Epub 2022 Feb 11.
Air pollution in Latin America is a major environmental threat, yet few studies have focused on aspects of environmental justice with regard to air pollution in the region. We examined the scientific literature and described whether and how this issue has been addressed, identify possible gaps in knowledge, and offer suggestions for future research to contribute to policies that seek greater equity concerning air pollution impacts in Latin America.
There is a limited literature that has addressed issues of environmental justice or environmental health inequalities about air pollution in Latin America, with studies concentrated in Brazil, Mexico, and Chile. Studies that examined disparities in exposure to air pollution found a clear pattern of higher exposure in socially deprived areas. Studies that examined disparities in health impacts associated with air pollution have mixed results, but many found a clear modification of effect with those in the lower socioeconomic groups presenting greater effects. Despite Latin America's colonial and slavery history, no studies have considered ethnicity or minority populations. The literature shows that health risks (exposure and susceptibility) associated with air pollution are unevenly distributed among Latin American populations. Methodological approaches varied and can be improved in future studies, especially for exposure assessment to air pollution, as well as for assigning socioeconomic position to individuals. Using smaller geographic units and spatial regression techniques will allow a reduction in measurement error. Attempts should be made to include both individual and contextual socioeconomic indicators in the analysis. Better quality information will help understand these differential exposures and effects and provide inputs to policies to tackle these inequalities.
空气污染是拉丁美洲的主要环境威胁，但很少有研究关注该地区空气污染方面的环境正义问题。我们查阅了科学文献，描述了该问题是否以及如何得到解决，确定了知识方面的可能差距，并为未来的研究提供了建议，以促进寻求拉丁美洲空气污染影响更大公平性的政策。
关于拉丁美洲的空气污染问题，涉及环境正义或环境健康不平等的文献有限，研究集中在巴西、墨西哥和智利。研究表明，接触空气污染的差异存在明显的模式，即社会贫困地区的暴露程度更高。研究表明，与空气污染相关的健康影响存在差异，其中社会经济地位较低的人群的影响更大，这一结果存在差异。尽管拉丁美洲有殖民和奴隶制的历史，但没有研究考虑种族或少数民族。文献表明，与空气污染相关的健康风险（暴露和易感性）在拉丁美洲人群中分布不均。未来的研究中，特别是在空气污染暴露评估以及个人社会经济地位分配方面，需要改进方法。使用更小的地理单元和空间回归技术可以减少测量误差。在分析中应尝试同时包含个体和背景社会经济指标。更好的质量信息将有助于了解这些差异暴露和影响，并为解决这些不平等问题的政策提供依据。
