The Effect of Open-Air Waste Burning on Infant Health: Evidence from Government Failure in Lebanon

Pierre Mouganie, Ruba Ajeeb () and Mark Hoekstra
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Ruba Ajeeb: American University in Beirut

No 13036, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: An estimated 40 percent of the world's garbage is burned in open-air fires, which are responsible for as much as half of the global emissions of some pollutants. However, there is little evidence on the health consequences of open-air waste burning. In this paper, we estimate the effect of in utero exposure to open-air waste burning on birth outcomes. We do so by examining the consequences of the Lebanese garbage crisis of 2015, which led to an abrupt, unanticipated increase in waste burning in residential neighborhoods in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. To identify effects, we exploit variation in exposure across neighborhoods before and after the crisis. Results indicate exposure had large impacts on birth outcomes; in utero exposure to at least one open-air waste burn increased premature births by 4 percentage points (50%) and low birth weight by 5 to 8 percentage points (80 - 120%). Given previous research documenting the long-run effects of prenatal shocks on adult health, human capital, and labor market outcomes, this suggests open-air waste burning imposes significant costs on populations worldwide.

Keywords: open-air waste burning; in utero pollution exposure; prenatal health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H41 I18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2020-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev, nep-ene, nep-env and nep-hea
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published online in: Journal of Human Resources , 08 March 2023

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Working Paper: The Effect of Open-Air Waste Burning on Infant Health: Evidence from Government Failure in Lebanon (2020)
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