Caution, Drivers! Children Present: Traffic, Pollution, and Infant Health

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Knittel, Christopher R.; Miller, Douglas L.; Sanders, Nicholas J.
• 署名单位: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); National Bureau of Economic Research; University of California System; University of California Davis; Cornell University
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/REST_a_00548
• 发表日期: 2016-05
• 页码: 350-366
• 关键词: air-pollution; CLIMATE-CHANGE; avoidance-behavior; carbon-monoxide; mortality; exposure; weather; fluctuations; outcomes; asthma

摘要

We investigate the effects of automobile congestion on ambient air pollution and local infant mortality rates using data from California spanning 2002 to 2007. Constructing instrumental variables (IV) using the relationship of traffic, weather conditions, and pollutants, we show that particulate matter, even at modern levels, has large marginal effects on weekly infant mortality rates, especially for premature or low birthweight infants. We also find suggestive evidence of large effects for carbon monoxide, though results are imprecise. Finally, we check estimate sensitivity to nonclassical measurement error in local pollution and show that our IV results are robust to such concerns.