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Something in the water: contaminated drinking water and infant health

Author

Listed:
  • Janet Currie
  • Joshua Graff Zivin
  • Katherine Meckel
  • Matthew Neidell
  • Wolfram Schlenker

Abstract

This paper provides estimates of the effects of in utero exposure to contaminated drinking water on fetal health. To do this, we examine the universe of birth records and drinking water testing results for the state of New Jersey from 1997 to 2007. Our data enable us to compare outcomes across siblings who were potentially exposed to differing levels of harmful contaminants from drinking water while in utero. We find small effects of drinking water contamination on all children, but large and statistically significant effects on birth weight and gestation of infants born to less educated mothers. We also show that those mothers who were most affected by contamination were the least likely to move between births in response to contamination. Quelque chose dans l'eau: eau potable contaminée et santé du nourrisson. Ce mémoire développe des estimations des effets d'une exposition in utero à de l'eau potable contaminée sur la santé du fœtus. Pour ce faire, on examine l'ensemble des registres de naissance et des résultats de tests de l'eau potable dans l'état du New Jersey entre 1997 et 2007. Ces données permettent de comparer les résultats entre frères et soeurs qui ont potentiellement été exposés à des niveaux différents de contamination de l'eau potable quand ils étaient in utero. On détecte de petits effets de la contamination de l'eau sur tous les enfants, mais des effets importants et statistiquement significatifs sur le poids à la naissance et sur la gestation des nourrissons portés par des mères moins instruites. On montre aussi que ces mères qui sont les plus affectées par la contamination de l'eau sont celles qui sont le moins susceptibles de déménager entre les naissances en raison de la contamination.

Suggested Citation

  • Janet Currie & Joshua Graff Zivin & Katherine Meckel & Matthew Neidell & Wolfram Schlenker, 2013. "Something in the water: contaminated drinking water and infant health," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 46(3), pages 791-810, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:46:y:2013:i:3:p:791-810
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12039
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • 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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