Review of air quality regulatory instruments and atmospheric monitoring systems: Latin America and the Caribbean

Among the 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), 18 have current air quality regulations accessible to the public via official websites, aligning these regulations with historical standards from the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and guideline values from the World Health Organization (WHO). The study identifies atmospheric monitoring programs across LAC countries and highlights that 15 countries collect data on criterion pollutants, with 13 publishing it partially or fully on official websites, and five providing real-time data. However, it reveals inconsistencies in updating air quality standards based on current research, potentially compromising public health protection across the region.