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

Author

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  • Hans Grönqvist
  • J. Peter Nilsson
  • Per-Olof Robling

Abstract

We study the impact of lead exposure from birth to adulthood and provide evidence on the mechanisms producing these effects. Following 800,000 children differentially exposed to the phaseout of leaded gasoline in Sweden, we find that even a low exposure affects long-run outcomes, that boys are more affected, and that changes in noncognitive skills explain a sizeable share of the impact on crime and human capital. The effects are greater above exposure thresholds still relevant for the general population, and reductions in exposure equivalent to the magnitude of the recent redefinition of elevated blood lead levels can increase earnings by 4%.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans Grönqvist & J. Peter Nilsson & Per-Olof Robling, 2020. "Understanding How Low Levels of Early Lead Exposure Affect Children’s Life Trajectories," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 128(9), pages 3376-3433.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:doi:10.1086/708725
    DOI: 10.1086/708725
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacqz, Irene, 2022. "Toxic test scores: The impact of chemical releases on standardized test performance within U.S. schools," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    2. Dahlberg, Matz & Egebark, Johan & Vikman, Ulrika, 2023. "Long-run integration of refugees: RCT evidence from a Swedish early intervention program," Working Paper Series 2023:23, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    3. Marshall Burke & Sam Heft-Neal & Jessica Li & Anne Driscoll & Patrick Baylis & Matthieu Stigler & Joakim A. Weill & Jennifer A. Burney & Jeff Wen & Marissa L. Childs & Carlos F. Gould, 2022. "Exposures and behavioural responses to wildfire smoke," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 1351-1361, October.
    4. Higney, Anthony & Hanley, Nick & Moro, Mirko, 2022. "The lead-crime hypothesis: A meta-analysis," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Angelini, Viola & Mierau, Jochen O. & Viluma, Laura, 2021. "Socioeconomic Conditions in Childhood and Mental Health Later in Life," GLO Discussion Paper Series 844, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    6. Yanjun Meng & Kun Wang & Yuanyuan Lin, 2021. "The Role of Land Use Transition on Industrial Pollution Reduction in the Context of Innovation-Driven: The Case of 30 Provinces in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-20, April.
    7. Binbin Chang & Lei Chen, 2021. "Land Economic Efficiency and Improvement of Environmental Pollution in the Process of Sustainable Urbanization: Case of Eastern China," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-23, August.
    8. Kerui Geng, 2024. "Early Life Circumstance and Adult Psychological Well-being," Working Papers 2407, Tulane University, Department of Economics.
    9. Gazze, Ludovica, 2021. "The price and allocation effects of targeted mandates: Evidence from lead hazards," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    10. Abbasi, Ali & DiTraglia, Francis J. & Gazze, Ludovica & Pals, Bridget, 2023. "Hidden hazards and screening policy: Predicting undetected lead exposure in Illinois," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    11. Fang, Guanfu & Zhu, Ying, 2022. "Long-term impacts of school nutrition: Evidence from China’s school meal reform," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

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