BACKGROUND AND AIM[|]Socioeconomic status (SES) is related in many cases to air pollution exposure, but less is known about its effects on air pollution susceptibility. The main aim of this study was to analyse the impact of SES on health effects associated with exposure to fine particles (PM2.5).[¤]METHOD[|]Firstly, a systematic literature review of studies analysing the impacts of SES on health effects related to air pollution exposure was carried out as part of the EU project VALESOR (Valuation of Environmental Stressors). Secondly, a meta-analysis was performed by analysing studies on long-term mortality associated with exposure to PM2.5 divided into different SES groups based on level of education and income. The literature search was performed using PubMed, and the meta-analysis was performed using the metaphor package in R software.[¤]RESULTS[|]The meta-analysis showed that the relative risk for all-cause mortality associated with PM2.5 did not differ by individual education or income. It also presented that adjustment for individual lifestyle factors in addition to adjustment for SES did not significantly change the RRs.[¤]CONCLUSIONS[|]The association of all-cause mortality with PM2.5 did not differ by education or individual income. This indicates that in health impacts assessments (HIAs) there is no need for group specific relative risks (RRs) as we could not identify higher susceptibility in education and income subgroups. However, this does not apply to differences in exposure, and vulnerability in general. Due to the high heterogeneity observed, further studies are still required to draw firm conclusions.[¤]