Lead in drinking water and birth outcomes: A tale of two water treatment plants

The recent lead-in-water crisis in Newark has renewed concerns about the crisis being a widespread problem in the nation. Using data on the exact home addresses of pregnant women residing in the city combined with information on the spatial boundary separating areas within the city serviced by two water treatment plants, we exploit an exogenous change in water chemistry that resulted in lead leaching into the tap water of one plant's service area, but not the other's, to identify a causal effect of prenatal lead exposure on fetal health. We find robust evidence of adverse health impacts, which has important policy implications in light of the substantial number of lead water pipes that remain in use as part of our aging infrastructure and the cost-benefit calculus of lead abatement interventions.

Automated summary

The recent lead-in-water crisis in Newark has sparked concerns about its potential widespread impact nationwide. By analyzing data on pregnant women's home addresses and the spatial boundaries of two water treatment plants, we have identified a causal effect of prenatal lead exposure on fetal health. This finding has significant policy implications considering the number of lead water pipes still in use and the cost-benefit analysis of lead reduction interventions.