Air Pollution and Educational Development in Ecuador: Relationship Between Air Quality and Academic Performance

Air pollution represents one of the main environmental problems affecting health and human development in urban areas of Ecuador. The objective of this research was to analyze the relationship between short-term exposure to air pollutants and the academic performance of secondary school students during national standardized examinations. The study was conducted under a quantitative, correlational, and explanatory approach, using academic and environmental information collected between 2018 and 2024 in cities such as Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca. Air quality data were obtained from official atmospheric monitoring stations, mainly considering concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and tropospheric ozone (O₃). The results showed that higher levels of air pollution were significantly associated with lower academic scores, with PM2.5 being the pollutant that produced the greatest negative effect on students’ cognitive performance. In addition, the effects were more pronounced among students attending public educational institutions, possibly due to differences in infrastructure and geographic location. No statistically significant differences were identified according to gender. Although lower academic performance was associated with reduced probabilities of access to higher education, no direct effect on university graduation was found. The study concludes that air quality is a relevant factor influencing educational development and student well-being in Ecuador.