in at least cities in the region including capitals exceeded the particulate matter pm limits recommended by who at least million people in latin america and the caribbean are said to be exposed to air pollution at levels that exceed whorecommended limits cifuentes and others the groups most vulnerable to the effects of air pollution are children the elderly people with certain preexisting health conditions and those in poverty in a period of around four years from to less than a third of the countries seven of were able to reduce the number of deaths from causes related to air pollution