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The Effects of Fluoride in the Drinking Water

Author

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  • Aggeborn, Linuz

    (Department of Government at Uppsala University, Uppsala Center for Fiscal Studies and Uppsala Center for Labor Studies)

  • Öhman, Mattias

    (Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF) and Department of Women's and Children's Health at Uppsala University)

Abstract

Fluoridation of the drinking water is a public policy whose aim is to improve dental health. Although the evidence is clear that fluoride is good for dental health, concerns have been raised regarding potential negative effects on cognitive development. We study the effects of fluoride exposure through the drinking water throughout life on cognitive and non-cognitive ability, math test scores and labor market outcomes in a large-scale setting. We use a rich Swedish register dataset for the cohorts born 1985–1992 in the main analysis, together with drinking water fluoride data. To estimate the effects, we exploit intra-municipality variation of fluoride, stemming from an exogenous variation in the bedrock. Taking all together, we investigate and confirm the long-established positive relationship between fluoride and dental health. Second, we find precisely estimated zero-effects on cognitive ability, non-cognitive ability and math test scores for fluoride levels in Swedish drinking water. Third, we find that fluoride improves later labor market outcomes, which indicates that good dental health is a positive factor on the labor market.

Suggested Citation

  • Aggeborn, Linuz & Öhman, Mattias, 2017. "The Effects of Fluoride in the Drinking Water," Working Paper Series 2017:20, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:ifauwp:2017_020
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Anna Strunecka & Otakar Strunecky, 2019. "Chronic Fluoride Exposure and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-21, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    fluoride; cognitive development; labor market outcomes; dental health;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H42 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Publicly Provided Private Goods
    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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