Understanding How Low Levels of Early Lead Exposure Affect Children’s Life Trajectories

The Long-Run Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom

“…A growing literature shows that early life exposure to pollution hinders health and human capital accumulation (Persico, Figlio, and Roth 2020;Alexander and Currie 2017). For example, lead poisoned children are more likely to be suspended and commit crimes (Aizer and Currie 2019;Reyes 2015) and have worse academic achievement (Ferrie, Rolf, and Troesken 2012;Grönqvist, Nilsson, and Robling 2020;Hollingsworth et al 2020), consistent with lead's impacts on children's neurological development. These associations manifest at blood lead levels (BLLs) as low as 1-2 micrograms per deciliter (µg/dL) of blood (Aizer et al 2018;Feigenbaum and Mueller 2016).…”

The Spillover Effects of Pollution: How Exposure to Lead Affects Everyone in the Classroom

“…neurotoxins (see, e.g., McCabe 1979;Meyer, McGeehin, and Falk, 2003). Even low levels of lead exposure have been linked to negative educational and behavioral outcomes (Aizer et al 2018;Blackowicz et al 2016;Feigenbaum and Muller 2016;Ferrie, Rolf, and Troesken 2012;Grönqvist, Nilsson, and Robling forthcoming), with early life exposure to pollution having worse effects, including cognitive disabilities (Persico, Figlio, and Roth 2020;Gazze 2016). Reyes (2014) estimates that lead costs $200 billion for a single birth-year cohort.…”

“…Lead poisoning is extremely costly to children and society, as it can cause children to engage in risky behavior (Aizer and Currie 2018;Reyes 2015) and have poor academic achievement (Aizer et al 2015;Ferrie, Rolf, and Troesken 2012;Grönqvist, Nilsson, and Robling forthcoming). Large effects on student achievement, school suspensions, and crime can occur at blood lead levels (BLLs) as low as 1-2 micrograms per deciliter of blood (Aizer et al 2018;Feigenbaum and Mueller 2016;National Toxicology Program 2012).…”

The price and allocation effects of targeted mandates: Evidence from lead hazards

“…Lead poisoning is associated with reduced IQ (Ferrie et al 2015) and educational attainment (Reyes 2015b, Aizer et al 2018) and an increased risk of criminal activity (Reyes 2007, 2015a, Feigenbaum & Muller 2016, Grönqvist et al 2020, Aizer & Currie 2019). 1 Lead paint was extensively used in the first half of the last century, until a growing recognition of these lead hazards motivated its ban for residential purposes in 1978.…”