Background Respiratory disease is a major and increasingly global epidemic that has a great impact on humans, especially children. The purpose of this study was to identify environmental risk factors for respiratory diseases and changes in pulmonary function in the different living environments. Methods A population-based, cross-sectional survey of respiratory diseases and related environmental risk factors was conducted in Jilin Province of Northeast China. The study population included students from grade third to fifth enrolled in the four schools in October 2016. Complete questionnaire information was available for 2419 children. We assess the impact of environmental factors on respiratory health in children. Results The results of multivariate logistic regression showed that a garbage station, noise or heating company around the home, purchase furniture, passive smoking and utilization of anophelifuge and disinfectant are risk factors of respiratory diseases. There is a significant difference in the measurement of lung function between the different classifications of the garbage station, noise, window opening in winter, passive smoking and the main fuel for cooking in winter et al. Conclusions We found that the environment in Changchun and Yanji cities, China, reported a garbage station, purchase furniture within a year, passive smoking, and utilization of anophelifuge and disinfectant et al may be the risk factors for respiratory diseases among school-aged children. A garbage station or noise around the home, close to the main traffic road, low frequency of opening windows in winter, passive smoking and using liquid gas may be also associated with decreased lung function.