School students’ awareness on air pollution and its health effects in the Sultanate of Oman

The current study aimed to investigate the level of Omani school students’ awareness of air pollution and its health effects due to gender and grade variables. A study was conducted in four governorates in Oman, viz. Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, north and south Al Batinah, in the 2022/2023 academic year. A closed online questionnaire was used with a total of 1,337 respondents from grades 9<sup>th</sup>, 10<sup>th</sup>,<sup> </sup>& 11<sup>th</sup>. The results of the study showed that the level of students’ awareness regarding air pollution and its health effects was moderate. Significant differences in students’ awareness of air pollution and its health effects due to gender and grade variables were obtained. Female students were more vulnerable than males to the effects of air pollution, hence they were significantly careful about air quality when doing outdoor sports activities. In contrast, male students’ awareness of the schools’ role regarding air pollution awareness and reduction actions was significantly higher than female students. Social media was a main source of access to information about air pollution. Inhaling contaminated air was the most common route of exposure to the toxic air pollutants reported by participants.