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The Long-Term Effects of Early-Life Pollution Exposure: Evidence from the London Smog

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  • Stephanie von Hinke
  • Emil Sorensen

Abstract

This paper uses a large UK cohort to investigate the impact of early-life pollution exposure on individuals' human capital and health outcomes in older age. We compare individuals who were exposed to the London smog in December 1952 whilst in utero or in infancy to those born after the smog and those born at the same time but in unaffected areas. We found that those exposed to the smog have substantially lower fluid intelligence and worse respiratory health, with some evidence of a reduction in years of schooling.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie von Hinke & Emil Sorensen, 2022. "The Long-Term Effects of Early-Life Pollution Exposure: Evidence from the London Smog," Bristol Economics Discussion Papers 22/757, School of Economics, University of Bristol, UK.
    • Handle: RePEc:bri:uobdis:22/757
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    Cited by:

    1. Rita Dias Pereira & Pietro Biroli & Titus Galama & Stephanie von Hinke & Hans van Kippersluis & Cornelius A. Rietveld & Kevin Thom, 2022. "Gene-Environment Interplay in the Social Sciences," Papers 2203.02198, arXiv.org, revised Aug 2022.

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