Prenatal air pollution exposure and neonatal health

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Air pollution has been shown to have adverse effects on many health outcomes including respiratory effects, cardiovascular effects, and mortality. However, evidence on the effects of prenatal exposure is still limited. We investigate the causal impact of prenatal exposure to air pollution on neonatal health in Italy in the 2000s. We exploit variation in rainfall shocks to instrument for non-random air pollution exposure. Our empirical setting combines detailed information on mother's residential location from birth certificates with PM10 concentrations from air pollution monitors. Ten additional units in the average PM10 level (approximately one standard deviation) would decrease birth weight by about 0.5% and gestational age by 0.16%; it would increase the prevalence of low birth weight by 22% and of preterm birth by 16%. The effects are stronger in magnitude for third trimester exposure and for less educated mothers. These findings suggest that the health impacts of air pollution on newborns are unequally distributed in the population.
Original languageEnglish
JournalHealth Economics
Volume31
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)729-759
Number of pages31
ISSN1057-9230
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01.05.2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

    Research areas

  • air pollution, environmental justice, environmental policies, IV, neonatal health
  • Economics

DOI

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