Gender Gaps in Birth Weight Across Latin America: Evidence on the Role of Air Pollution

Recent estimates indicate that more than 100 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean are exposed to air pollution levels exceeding World Health Organization guidelines. Air pollution persists because of a development process centered around high rates of urbanization and congestion, geographically concentrated industrialization, and biomass burning. This paper focuses on a relatively understudied consequence of this pollution-intensive development process: its gender impact. The analysis provides systematic evidence across the region on the impact of in utero exposure to air pollution on infant health and well-being, a period when the medical literature suggests male fetuses are more delicate than female fetuses. Health at birth is known to have long-term consequences, so this investigation seems warranted and aids the understanding of future gender gaps in socioeconomic development. The empirical analysis combines satellite and survey data from three countries in the region: Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru. Based on sibling comparisons, the analysis finds that a 10% increase in pollution exposure in utero reduces the male–female birth weight gap by approximately 50 g. This weight reduction is equivalent to the impact of smoking five cigarettes a day (versus none) during pregnancy.