Mapping Air Quality Risk in Cape Town, South Africa: Implications for Environmental Justice

Abstract Air pollution disproportionately impacts socially vulnerable communities, yet spatial analyzes that integrate social vulnerability and air quality indicators are limited in low‐ and middle‐income countries. This study provided the first comprehensive spatial assessment of air pollution risk in Cape Town, South Africa, combining air quality index data derived from Sentinel‐5P satellite measurements and Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service reanalysis data set with a Principal Component Analysis‐generated social vulnerability index (SVI) based on socioeconomic, demographic, and land use factors. Our analysis identified spatial hotspots where high levels of air pollution are associated with increased social vulnerability and showed that 40.3% of the population is at high to very high risk of air pollution. Areas of greatest concern include informal settlements and historically marginalized neighborhoods, highlighting the increased impact of environmental and social determinants of health. These findings highlight the utility of integrating SVI into air quality management frameworks to support equitable interventions. Policymakers, clinicians, and urban planners can leverage these insights to develop targeted strategies that address both air pollution exposure and underlying social inequities to promote environmental justice in urban contexts.