This article presents a detailed and updated review of the state of the art on the impact of pollution on electrical insulators applied to electrical power systems, highlighting the importance of pollution characterization and monitoring. It categorizes pollution into biological, industrial and natural, highlighting the pollution profiles found in the Amazon region, discussing how each type affects the efficiency of insulators. It also addresses the use of analytical and numerical models to model insulators affected by pollution and discusses techniques used to measure and analyze the severity of local pollution, and the operating conditions of insulators. Mitigation strategies such as periodic washing, use of hydrophobic coatings, and adjustments to insulator design to improve electric field distribution are discussed based on case studies.
