Shipping is essential to global trade, facilitating the transportation of goods over long distances and fostering economic development. Nevertheless, the environmental and health repercussions linked to shipping are substantial, especially in port cities where ship emissions can significantly deteriorate air quality. This thesis examines the relationship between air pollution levels and respiratory-related hospital admissions in the port city of Piraeus, Greece. Using daily data on hospital admissions for respiratory conditions, alongside air quality indicators such as PM2.5 and NO₂ concentrations, and average temperature as a control variable, the study applies time-series regression analysis to assess whether peaks in air pollution are statistically associated with increased rates of respiratory illness. While the lack of detailed daily shipping traffic data prevents direct attribution to port operations, the observed patterns provide indirect evidence of the public health burden related to urban air pollution in a densely populated maritime area. This research contributes to the growing body of evidence linking environmental stressors to adverse health outcomes in coastal cities, and underscores the need for more transparent and granular environmental and operational data from port authorities.