Health impacts of air pollution in South America: Recent advances and research gaps

South American cities experience high levels of air pollution. Studies on its health impacts, however, are scarce when compared with those in wealthier regions. This review focuses on recent research on air pollution and health impacts in this continent, including studies that have been focused on vulnerable groups such as infants and children, lower-income groups, and rural and indigenous populations. Impacts of household air pollution are also discussed. South America would greatly benefit from expanded monitoring networks, improved air quality modeling, and detailed health data to better understand exposure–health relationships and multipollutant interactions.