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A Thousand Cuts: Cumulative Lead Exposure Reduces Academic Achievement

Author

Listed:
  • Alex Hollingsworth
  • Mike Huang
  • Ivan J. Rudik
  • Nicholas J. Sanders

Abstract

We study how ambient lead exposure impacts learning in elementary school by leveraging a natural experiment where a large national automotive racing organization switched from leaded to unleaded fuel. We find increased levels and duration of exposure to lead negatively affect academic performance, shift the entire academic performance distribution, and negatively impact both younger and older children. A single average race emitted more than 10 kilograms of lead — a quantity similar to the total annual emissions of an airport or the median lead-emitting industrial facility in the United States. The average treated student in our setting has an expected income reduction of $5,200 in present value terms. Avoiding said treatment has an effect size similar to improving teacher value added by one-fourth of a standard deviation, reducing class size by 3 students, or increasing school spending per pupil by $750. The marginal impacts of lead are larger in impoverished, non-white counties, and among students with greater duration of exposure, even after controlling for the total quantity of exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Alex Hollingsworth & Mike Huang & Ivan J. Rudik & Nicholas J. Sanders, 2020. "A Thousand Cuts: Cumulative Lead Exposure Reduces Academic Achievement," NBER Working Papers 28250, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:28250
    Note: CH ED EEE EH LS PE
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Heyes, Anthony & Saberian, Soodeh, 2024. "Pollution and learning: Causal evidence from Obama’s Iran sanctions," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    3. Marcus, Michelle, 2025. "Testing above the limit: Drinking water contamination and test scores," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    4. Fletcher, Jason & Noghanibehambari, Hamid, 2025. "Early-life lead exposure and male longevity: Evidence from historical municipal water systems," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    5. Reynolds, Nicholas, 2025. "Stunted Adolescence: The Anomalous Growth Pattern of Americans Born After Mid-Century," IZA Discussion Papers 18046, IZA Network @ LISER.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • 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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