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Antibiotic pollution and infant mortality in India: a research note

Author

Listed:
  • Dumas, Christelle

    (University of Fribourg, Switzerland)

  • JÃ tiva, Ximena

    (UNICEF Innocenti)

  • Baumgartner, Stefanie

    (University of Fribourg, Switzerland)

Abstract

The number of deaths from antibiotic resistance is steadily rising and has become a global public health issue. Children in low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected, as last-line antibiotics are usually unavailable to them. Pollution of riverways due to pharmaceutical products is one driver of resistance. We assess whether this channel con-tributes significantly to infant mortality in India. We show that living downstream of a producer increases the risk of infant mortality by 16% and that antibiotic production explains 17,000 infant deaths in India per year. This suggests that better monitoring, new regulations, improved production processes, and strategic considerations on the location of antibiotic producers are needed to ensure that production does not induce negative externalities on the local population.

Suggested Citation

  • Dumas, Christelle & JÃ tiva, Ximena & Baumgartner, Stefanie, 2025. "Antibiotic pollution and infant mortality in India: a research note," FSES Working Papers 543, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Freiburg/Fribourg Switzerland.
    • Handle: RePEc:fri:fribow:fribow00543
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    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • 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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