Life After Lead: Effects of Early Interventions for Children Exposed to Lead

Stephen Billings and Kevin Schnepel

No 10872, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Lead pollution is consistently linked to cognitive and behavioral impairments, yet little is known about the benefits of public health interventions for children exposed to lead. This paper estimates the long-term impacts of early-life interventions (e.g. lead remediation, nutritional assessment, medical evaluation, developmental surveillance, and public assistance referrals) recommended for lead-poisoned children. Using linked administrative data from Charlotte, NC, we compare outcomes for children who are similar across observable characteristics but differ in eligibility for intervention due to blood lead test results. We find that the negative outcomes previously associated with early-life exposure can largely be reversed by intervention.

Keywords: early childhood intervention; early health shocks; lead exposure; human capital formation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I12 I18 I21 J13 J24 K42 Q53 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 53 pages
Date: 2017-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-env, nep-hea and nep-neu
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

Published - published in: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2018, 10 (3), 315 - 344

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Journal Article: Life after Lead: Effects of Early Interventions for Children Exposed to Lead (2018)
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