Air pollution is a major environmental health concern, particularly in rapidly urbanizing areas. This cross-sectional study analyzed the association between ambient air pollutant levels and respiratory morbidity in children aged 5–14 years in a metropolitan city. Data on particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) were collected from city monitoring stations, while respiratory health outcomes were gathered from school-based health surveys (n=1,200). Multivariate logistic regression showed that higher PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with increased risk of asthma (OR=2.3, 95% CI:1.6–3.4) and recurrent respiratory infections (OR=1.8, 95% CI:1.2–2.6). The study underscores the urgent need for urban air quality interventions to protect vulnerable pediatric populations.

Keywords:
Air Pollution, Pediatric Respiratory Health, Asthma, Environmental Health, Urban Health