Summary

The relationship between elevated pollutant emissions and increasing allergic diseases prevalence has been described in experimental and epidemiological reports in many countries, especially in large cities. Although improvement in the quality of air pollution in São Paulo city, many pollutants still to exceed the normal limits. This revision discuss the prevalence of asthma and rhinitis in schoolchildren in two regions of São Paulo and their correlations with particulate matter and gases levels, including the pollution how another risk factor for respiratory allergic diseases.