Abstract: The exposure to atmospheric pollutants produced in cities is one of the factors contributing to poor quality of life in urban centers. It is inherent that air quality has been a widely discussed and researched topic over time, given that air plays a crucial role in various life forms, making it a key environmental indicator in significant decision-making. It is known that air pollution is linked to respiratory diseases; however, it is also associated with cardiovascular diseases, central nervous system disorders, premature births, among other aggravating factors. Additionally, the environmental impact caused by air pollution, such as climate changes leading to ecological imbalances, should also be considered. Among the main contributors to this problem, urban “immobility” stands out as a trigger for high pollutant emissions, resulting in exposure for people who transit in these areas, responsible for about 60% of the pollutants individuals breathe in cities. There is a gap in understanding how air pollution can affect people based on their position in society, considering aspects that characterize their level of social environmental vulnerability. Vulnerability indicators are widely used in studies to characterize populations in disaster-prone areas, for example. Given the relevance of the presented problem, this study aims to understand the possible relationship between social environmental vulnerability and air quality in the city of São Paulo from 2018 to 2023. In this work, the concept of social environmental vulnerability in the context of air pollution was adopted, defined as the predisposition and internal state of societies or individuals that can affect how they face dangers such as diseases and losses, related to three areas: environment, economy, and society. In this perspective, vulnerability is divided into three dimensions: exposure, susceptibility, and adaptive capacity in the biophysical and social areas, interacting with each other and in the three mentioned areas. After the exploratory research, a compilation of indicators corresponding to the social environmental vulnerability of the population of São Paulo was made, along with annual data from São Paulo’s air quality monitoring stations, using CETESB’s air quality reports. The data were analyzed and processed through statistical correlation. Additionally, thematic maps illustrating the distribution of the compiled data in the municipality were created using the QGIS software. The analysis of the potential relationship between São Paulo’s air quality and the socioeconomic and environmental conditions of its residents contributes to society’s understanding of how social environmental issues can impact the management of air pollution. Initial analyses indicated that social environmental vulnerability is a complex and determining factor in addressing issues related to air pollution, as this perspective encompasses different dimensions that characterize the socioeconomic profile of residents and the environments in which they live. Further in-depth analyses are being conducted to understand the motivations that may have led to these results, contributing to the development of future research. The knowledge generated through this work also aims to contribute to the accumulation of knowledge in the field of Air Pollution and Environmental Management in the city of São Paulo, leading to new insights into this topic. These results can also support the development of related public policies. Thus, it is expected that these benefits will be provided in the long term by incorporating social environmental vulnerabilities into the understanding of coping with poor air quality caused by air pollution in the case of São Paulo.

Keywords: Social environmental vulnerabilities, São Paulo, air pollution, vulnerabilities indicators