Acute lower respiratory infections (ALRI) account for nearly one fifth of mortality in young children worldwide and have been associated with exposures to indoor and outdoor sources of combustion-derived air pollution. A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant articles on air pollution and ALRI in children. Using a Bayesian approach to meta-analysis, a summary estimate of 1.12 (1.03, 1.30) increased risk in ALRI occurrence per 10 μg/m3 increase in annual average PM2.5 concentration was derived from the longer-term (subchronic and chronic) effects studies.

In this study, size-segregated particulate matter samples were collected in Raipur, India from July 2009 to June 2010 by using eight-stage cascade impactor sampler. The annual average concentrations and associated standard deviation of PM10, PM2.5–10, PM2.5, and PM1 were 270.5 ± 105.5, 119.6 ± 44.6, 150.9 ± 78.6, and 72.5 ± 39.0 μg/m3, respectively. The PM10 and PM2.5 levels at Raipur, India were well above the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standards of India of 60 and 40 μg/m3 for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively.