The differential exposure to air pollution between social groups is a matter of public health concern. Ambient air pollution particularly affects people living in the most deprived areas. Higher levels of exposure may also produce higher adverse health effects on populations that are more vulnerable because of their socio-economic condition. In fact, age, gender, education, ethnicity, and occupation heavily affect the residential and activity patterns of the populations. Air pollution exposure inequalities are often associated with deprived populations that are concentrated in proximity of high traffic roads and industrial areas. Equity interventions can target air quality conditions and the most affected areas. 

An analysis published by WHO-EURO indicates that PM2.5 exposure tends to be higher in more disadvantaged areas, at all spatial scales and for most of the indicators of disadvantage.