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Knowledge protects against pollution: The health effects of the cadmium rice event in China

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  • Chen, Xiaohong
  • Zhao, Jinhua
  • Zhou, Li

Abstract

The paper studies the effects of news media coverage of the 2013 cadmium rice event in China on consumer health outcomes and avoidance behavior. A difference-in-differences analysis shows that the event caused a 2% decrease in the incidence of joint or muscle pain (JMP), a major health outcome of cadmium pollution, in high-cadmium-pollution regions relative to other regions. Individuals with higher income or with more access to traditional TV media or digital media experienced a greater level of JMP reduction. To defend against cadmium pollution, residents in cadmium-polluted regions switched their drinking water from unsafe sources such as surface water to the safe source of deep groundwater and significantly reduced their consumption of rice. Our findings demonstrate the importance of information provision as an informal approach to complement formal environmental regulation and the critical role of news media in environmental regulation and public health.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, Xiaohong & Zhao, Jinhua & Zhou, Li, 2024. "Knowledge protects against pollution: The health effects of the cadmium rice event in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:175:y:2024:i:c:s0305750x23002887
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106470
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Heavy metal pollution; Cadmium rice; Avoidance behavior; Information; Food safety; News media;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • 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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