Objectives: Air pollution remains a critical public health threat in modern societies, with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) driving significant respiratory risks. This study investigated the relationship between criteria air pollutants (particulate matter 2.5 [PM_2.5], particulate matter 10 [PM₁₀], SO₂, nitrogen oxides [NO_x], Pb, and benzene) and the prevalence of selected respiratory diseases in the Upper Silesian agglomeration over a 5-year period. Material and Methods: Outpatient admission data for targeted conditions – including acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, acute laryngotracheitis, pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma – were obtained from the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia – NFZ) based on the corresponding International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes (J02, J03, J04, J13, J39, J40, J46). Spearman’s and Kendall’s correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the associations between average daily concentrations of air pollutants across approx. 50 regional monitoring stations and NFZ-reported disease incidence rates. Although the Upper Silesian Voivodeship is divided into 8 regions, the analysis revealed striking geographic variations. Results: A very strong correlation emerged between SO2 levels and increased respiratory disease incidence in regions 7 and 8 (τ = 0.99, ρ = 0.9), alongside a strong correlation in regions 1 and 4 (ρ = 0.78). Conclusions: These findings highlight the under-examined health impacts of low-level SO2 and underscore the need for further investigations into the underlying drivers of these regional health disparities. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2026;39(5)