Air pollution control and the occurrence of acute respiratory illness in school children of Quito, Ecuador

A city-wide air pollution control program in Quito, Ecuador, led to a 48% reduction in the incidence of acute respiratory illness (ARI) among school children aged 6-12 years over five years. The study compared data from two cohorts observed in 2000 and 2007, finding a significant decline in both ARI cases and serum carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels—a proxy for carbon monoxide exposure—due to vehicle emission controls. While no direct link was found between elevated COHb concentrations and ARI incidence, the overall reduction in air pollution correlated with improved respiratory health in children. This highlights the potential public health benefits of targeted traffic-related pollution management.

Estrella, B., Sempértegui, F., Franco, O. H., Cepeda, M., & Naumova, E. N. (2018). Air pollution control and the occurrence of acute respiratory illness in school children of Quito, Ecuador. Journal of Public Health Policy, 40(1), 17–34. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-018-0148-6