Respiratory questionnaire survey in first grade students attending all public primary school in the city of Sosnowiec included 79.5% of all eligible children. In 1233 girls (G) and 1293 boys (B) the cumulative prevalence of chronic cough was: G - 17.5%, B - 20.8%, chest wheezing: G - 17.4%, B - 22.3%, and of attacks of dyspnea: G - 6.4%, B - 10.7%. Physician diagnosed asthma was found in 2.1% of girls and 3.4% of boys. The results of the logistic regression analysis showed statistically significant effects of sex and family history of asthma on all respiratory symptoms and diagnosis of asthma. Symptoms of chest wheezing depended also on environmental tobacco smoke and apartment density score (person/room). In relation to chronic cough the following additional risk factors were identified: place of birth in the Voivodship, hospitalization in the first month of life and breast feeding. A relatively low cumulative prevalence of childhood asthma in Sosnowiec, in comparison with the prevalence of epidemiological signs of asthmatic tendency, suggest that the magnitude of the problem of childhood asthma could be underestimated, if assessed only on physician diagnosed cases. The findings provide background information for further research on respiratory health in children living in the region of substantial ambient air pollution.