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Childhood lead and academic performance in Massachusetts

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  • Jessica W. Reyes

Abstract

It is now widely accepted that childhood exposure to even low levels of lead can adversely affect neurodevelopment, behavior, and cognitive performance. Using individual-level data on childhood lead levels and test scores in Massachusetts, this paper investigates the link between lead levels in early childhood in the 1990s and student test scores in elementary school in the 2000s. Elevated levels of blood lead in early childhood are shown to adversely impact standardized test performance, even when controlling for community and school characteristics. Accordingly, public health policy that reduced childhood lead levels in the 1990s was responsible for modest but statistically significant improvements in test performance in the 2000s, with particular benefits for children in low-income communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Jessica W. Reyes, 2011. "Childhood lead and academic performance in Massachusetts," New England Public Policy Center Working Paper 11-3, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:fedbcw:11-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Anne Case & Christina Paxson, 2010. "Causes and consequences of early-life health," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 47(1), pages 65-85, March.
    2. Caroline M. Hoxby, 2001. "All School Finance Equalizations are Not Created Equal," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 116(4), pages 1189-1231.
    3. repec:pri:rpdevs:case_and_paxson_early_life_health_w15637 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. repec:pri:cheawb:case_and_paxson_early_life_health_w15637 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. repec:pri:cheawb:case_and_paxson_early_life_health_w15637.pdf is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Dolores de la Mata & Carlos Felipe Gaviria Garces, 2019. "Exposure to Pollution and Infant Health: Evidence from Colombia," CINCH Working Paper Series 1902, Universitaet Duisburg-Essen, Competent in Competition and Health.
    2. Juliana Carneiro & Matthew A. Cole & Eric Strobl, 2024. "Foetal Exposure to Air Pollution and Students' Cognitive Performance: Evidence from Agricultural Fires in Brazil," Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics, Department of Economics, University of Oxford, vol. 86(1), pages 156-186, February.
    3. Jessica Wolpaw Reyes, 2014. "Lead Exposure and Behavior: Effects on Antisocial and Risky Behavior among Children and Adolescents," NBER Working Papers 20366, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    Achievement tests;

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