An Assessment of Health Effects of Ambient Air Pollution in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

[Prefacio]. In many cities of Latin America and the Caribbean air pollution has become a major public health concern. Ambient concentrations of particles and other air pollutants exceed national air quality standards in many places. Exposure to the types and concentrations of air pollutants commonly found in urban areas has been linked to an increased risk of mortality and morbidity from a variety of conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Maternal exposure to air pollutants during pregnancy has also been linked to adverse effects on fetal growth. Understanding associations between reported effects and exposure to air pollution includes the important steps of characterizing exposures to ambient air pollutants, defining the populations at risk and establishing at which levels specific exposures carry adverse health effects