I have been to Sao Paulo and Salvador Brazil. Sao Paulo is a HUGE city and has the worst smog I have ever seen - and I am from Los Angeles!
And the crime there.... one of the biggest crimes.... you are driving along, criminals put trees across the road. You stop your car. They jump in, they make you drive to an ATM, they beat you and leave you for dead. The lucky ones live through this. When I was visiting there, I stayed with my host and hostess at all times, since they knew the area. But we were still in danger. The company my husband works for ask my husband if we wanted to move there for a year or so. He turned it down. Ever see PROOF OF LIFE... that is life in a lot of SA.