Abstract Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) constitutes an escalating threat to global health. However, the social and spatial inequalities associated with its impacts remain insufficiently examined. This review, encompassing literature published up to 2024, investigates how disparities in the health effects of PM 2.5 have been addressed in the academic field. Through the analysis of 251 articles indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, using bibliometric analysis, structural topic modelling (STM), and qualitative content analysis, this study identifies a marked increase in scientific output since 2016, predominantly originating from the United States, China, and the United Kingdom. The literature highlights the disproportionate burden borne by vulnerable groups, including low-income populations, racial and ethnic minorities, women, migrants, children, and the elderly, with an emphasis on socioeconomic inequality, racism, and gender-based disparities. Despite growing attention to environmental justice, the incorporation of intersectional frameworks remains limited, with LGBTQ+ populations notably absent from discussions on gender and health inequities. Furthermore, the Global South remains underrepresented, even as it faces more acute socio-environmental challenges. The review also underscores the intersection between poverty, reliance on solid fuels, and elevated PM 2.5 exposure, reinforcing the imperative for a just energy transition. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic not only revealed the link between PM 2.5 and increased risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 infection but also accentuated existing inequalities. These findings collectively point to persistent gaps in the literature and underscore the need to advance theoretical and methodological approaches that account for intersecting vulnerabilities, broaden geographic representation, and ensure the inclusion of marginalised populations in order to foster a more comprehensive and equitable understanding of the health risks associated with PM 2.5 . Graphical Abstract
Machado et al. (Fri,) studied this question.