Most polluted cities based on PM2.5 concentration in Latin America 2022

San Juan de Lurigancho, Peru's most populous district – with a population surpassing 1.2 million inhabitants – was the most polluted city in Latin America in 2022, based on fine air particulate matter concentration (PM2.5). That year, the city reported an average PM2.5 concentration of 41.2 micrograms per cubic meter. This was followed by Vitarte, also located in Peru, with an estimated PM2.5 concentration of around 40 μg/m³.

Pollution in Latin American capitals

The Chilean capital, Santiago, registered an average PM2.5 concentration of 25.8 μg/m³ in 2022. Lima, the Peruvian capital, had an estimated PM2.5 concentration of around 25.6 μg/m³, while in the capital of Mexico (Mexico City), air pollution amounted to 22.1 μg/m³. The World Health Organization's air quality standards recommend a maximum annual average concentration of 10 μg/m³.

The burden of pollution on health

Air particulate pollution has been associated with an increase in mortality from cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as development of lung cancer. In fact, over 230 thousand deaths have been attributable to air pollution exposure in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2019. Between 2016 and 2019, the number of deaths due to air pollution exposure in Mexico and Chile has increased by five and nine percent, respectively.