AIR POLLUTION AND CHILDHOOD RESPIRATORY HEALTH: EVIDENCE FROM A LONGITUDINAL STUDY IN A COASTAL URBAN ENVIRONMENT

Air pollution is one of the greatest contemporary environmental challenges, with direct impacts on childhood morbidity and mortality. Children are among the most vulnerable groups due to their immature immune systems and higher ventilatory rates relative to body weight. This study evaluated the association between exposure to air pollutants and respiratory function in children aged 0 to 12 years living in Santos, São Paulo. Using secondary data from DATASUS and CETESB (2018–2022), we observed that mean annual concentrations of PM₂.₅ (18.7 µg/m³) and NO₂ (32.4 µg/m³) frequently exceeded WHO recommendations. Pediatric hospitalizations for asthma, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis reached 235 per 100,000 children, with winter peaks coinciding with pollutant elevations. Statistical analysis confirmed significant correlations between pollutant exposure and hospital admissions (Spearman ρ = 0.62, p < 0.01). This longitudinal observational study presents consolidated results that strengthen the evidence linking environmental exposure and pediatric respiratory outcomes.