We carried out a time-series analysis on daily/hourly ambient air pollutant concentrations and daily number of outpatient consultations for otolaryngology during the first year (2013) of implementation of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in Beijing. Daily patterns of SO_2, NO_2, CO, O_3, PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) were determined and hourly characteristics of air pollutants from Dongsi are discussed. Health effects of air pollutants on ear, nose and throat (ENT) were evaluated. The results show that daily air pollutant concentrations had obvious seasonal differences. O_3 levels in the warm season were higher than in the cold season, whereas other pollutants showed opposite trends. All pollutants had different seasonal patterns for hourly concentrations. Hours with peak concentrations also had seasonal differences, and hourly time trends of PM_(2.5) and PM_(10) (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 μm and 10 μm, respectively) were different. In contrast with other air pollutants, hourly O_3 concentrations in warm season were higher than cold season. Dongcheng District had high PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) levels and Beijing experienced heavy PM_(2.5) pollution in 2013. Ozone became the second main air pollutant in Beijing. All pollutants had health effects on ENT, and lag effects were found for some pollutants. Relative risks in the warm season were higher than in the cold season for O_3 and lower than the cold season for the other five air pollutants.