Urban-Rural Disparity in Lung Function among Adolescents in Lucknow, India: A Cross-Sectional Study on Air Pollution Exposure

Abstract

Background: Air pollution is a major environmental health concern in rapidly urbanizing regions of India, with growing evidence that chronic exposure adversely affects respiratory health. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable, as lung growth and maturation continue during this critical developmental period. Urban environments typically exhibit higher levels of ambient air pollution compared to rural areas, potentially leading to disparities in lung function among adolescents.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare lung function parameters among urban and rural adolescents in Lucknow, India, and to examine the association between environmental exposure and respiratory health outcomes.
Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 50 school-going adolescents aged 10–16 years, including 25 participants each from urban and rural areas of Lucknow. Spirometric measurements— Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV₁), and the FEV₁/FVC ratio—were assessed using standardized spirometry protocols. Descriptive statistics were computed, and inferential analyses included independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests for prevalence comparison, and Pearson correlation analysis to examine associations between lung function and anthropometric variables.
Results: Rural adolescents demonstrated significantly higher mean values of FVC, FEV₁, and FEV₁/FVC ratio compared to their urban counterparts (p < 0.001). The prevalence of lung function impairment (FEV₁ < 80% predicted) was substantially higher in the urban group (32%) than in the rural group (11%), with the difference being statistically significant (χ² = 12.57, p < 0.001). Strong positive correlations between height and lung function parameters were observed in both groups, confirming physiological consistency.
Conclusions: The findings indicate significant urban–rural disparities in adolescent lung function, with poorer respiratory outcomes among urban adolescents. These results suggest that chronic exposure to higher levels of ambient air pollution in urban settings may impair lung growth and function. The study highlights the urgent need for targeted public health interventions, improved air quality control, and school-based respiratory health screening programs to protect adolescent lung health.