Do Low Levels of Blood Lead Reduce Children's Future Test Scores?

Anna Aizer, Janet Currie, Peter Simon and Patrick Vivier

No 22558, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We construct a unique individual-level longitudinal dataset linking preschool blood lead levels with third grade test scores for eight birth cohorts of Rhode Island children born between 1997 and 2005. Using these data, we show that reductions of lead from even historically low levels have significant positive effects on children's reading test scores in third grade. Our preferred estimates use the introduction of a lead remediation program as an instrument in order to control for the possibility of confounding and for considerable error in measured lead exposures. The estimates suggest that a one unit decrease in average blood lead levels reduces the probability of being substantially below proficient in reading by 3.1 percentage points (on a baseline of 12 percent). Moreover, as we show, poor and minority children are more likely to be exposed to lead, suggesting that lead poisoning may be one of the causes of continuing gaps in test scores between disadvantaged and other children.

JEL-codes: I24 J15 Q53 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016-08
Note: CH ED EEE EH LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

Published as Anna Aizer & Janet Currie & Peter Simon & Patrick Vivier, 2018. "Do Low Levels of Blood Lead Reduce Children's Future Test Scores?," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, vol 10(1), pages 307-341.

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Journal Article: Do Low Levels of Blood Lead Reduce Children's Future Test Scores? (2018)
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