Dust to Dust: Tracing Air Pollution’s Impact on Work Accidents

Benjamin Hattemer and Ismael Moreno-Martinez

Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 2026, vol. 13, issue 2, 425 - 461

Abstract: This study provides novel causal estimates of the effect of air pollution on workplace safety using data on the universe of work accidents reported in Spain (2010–19). We focus on a near-worldwide natural source of air pollution: mineral dust precipitation. The results indicate that a day of dust precipitation increases work accidents by 1.4%. Our estimates reveal that dust events’ overall burden on workplace safety are of the same order of magnitude as those of high temperatures. Impacts are widespread, spanning most worker and accident characteristics, consistent with dust pollution inducing human error across a broad range of tasks and activities. We find significant effects for workers along most of the wage distribution, though we estimate null impacts for those in the top wage quintile. Dust precipitation induces occupational injuries both mild and severe, including those requiring over two months of sick leave.

Date: 2026
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