The Long-term Effects of Early Lead Exposure: Evidence from a case of Environmental Negligence

Abstract

This paper estimates the effect of early lead exposure on academic achievement and adult earnings. We analyze longitudinal information from individuals attending primary and secondary schools in the city of Arica (in northern Chile). Between 1984 and 1989, Arica received more than 20,000 tons of toxic chemicals containing high concentrations of lead. Initially, the chemical waste was located several kilometers from the city. However, Arica's rapid expansion, which included the construction of housing projects just meters away from the waste deposit, put a large number of families at risk. Our data include information on residential proximity to the polluted area, levels of lead exposure, comprehensive demographic information, nationally representative academic test scores and administrative data on adult earnings.We document a strong relationship between blood lead levels and student academic performance. We find that an increase of one microgram of lead per deciliter of blood reduces math and language scores by 0.15 and 0.21 standard deviations, respectively. For earnings, we estimate that for each extra microgram of lead, monthly earnings decrease by CLP 11,458 (or USD 22.92). This translates into a reduction of USD 6,000 in lifetime earnings per microgram of lead per deciliter of blood.

Health and Economic Activity Over the Lifecycle: Literature Review

“…Using data from a city in Chile, Rau, Reyes and Urza (2013), connect lead exposure to academic performance and earnings. The variation that they exploit is the dumping of more than 20,000 tons of toxic waste in a city between 1984 and 1989 which interacted with the city's expansion, and led to lead exposure in a geographically heterogeneous way.…”

Comparative study on tensile creep behavior of SN-9ZN, SN-0.7CU and SN-49ZN-1CU solders

“…Even very low levels of exposure can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted growth, impaired hearing, and kidney damage. At high levels of exposure, a child may become mentally retarded, fall into a coma, and even die from lead poisoning [7]. In the wake of calls to ban lead due to its toxicity level and ill effects, industrial material suppliers geared themselves up to develop lead free alloys.…”

“…In the wake of calls to ban lead due to its toxicity level and ill effects, industrial material suppliers geared themselves up to develop lead free alloys. In a period of 10 years, various patents on lead free alloys have been published [6][7][8]. The lead-free solder, to be used as replacement for lead based solder, is expected to have several properties as outlined below [8]:  It should have a melting temperature close to that of leaded solders.…”

Every Breath You Take—Every Dollar You’ll Make: The Long-Term Consequences of the Clean Air Act of 1970

“…Nonetheless, these studies suggest that there might be an earnings effect of pollution. Outside the U.S., a few recent studies have also estimated the impacts of early-life lead exposure on adult outcomes in Sweden (Nilsson, 2009) and Chile (Rau, Reyes, and Urzua, 2013). However, these studies are limited in their ability to directly observe labor market outcomes (specifically Rau, Reyes, and Urzua, 2013), while also focusing on a very different and far more toxic pollutant (lead) in a context outside of the United States.…”