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The effect of oil spills on infant mortality: Evidence from Nigeria

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  • Anna Bruederle
  • Roland Hodler

Abstract

Oil spills can lead to irreversible environmental degradation and pose hazards to human health. We are the first to study the causal effects of onshore oil spills on neonatal and infant mortality rates. We use spatial data from the Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor and the Demographic and Health Surveys, and rely on the comparison of siblings conceived before and after nearby oil spills. We find that nearby oil spills double the neonatal mortality rate. These effects are fairly uniform across locations and socio-economic backgrounds. We also provide some evidence for negative health effects of nearby oil spills on surviving children.

Suggested Citation

  • Anna Bruederle & Roland Hodler, 2017. "The effect of oil spills on infant mortality: Evidence from Nigeria," NCID Working Papers 03/2017, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.
    • Handle: RePEc:nva:unnvaa:wp03-2017
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    Cited by:

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    2. Christabel Edena Ansah & Itohan-Osa Abu & Janina Kleemann & Mahmoud Ibrahim Mahmoud & Michael Thiel, 2022. "Environmental Contamination of a Biodiversity Hotspot—Action Needed for Nature Conservation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-21, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Oil spills; Nigeria; infant mortality; child health.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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