The Effects of Fluoride in Drinking Water

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Aggeborn, Linuz; Ohman, Mattias
• 署名单位: Uppsala University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/711915
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 465-491
• 关键词: INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT; DENTAL FLUOROSIS; SCHOOL-CHILDREN; exposure; HEALTH; district; association; infrastructure; neurotoxicity; TECHNOLOGY

摘要

Water fluoridation is a common but debated public policy. In this paper, we use Swedish registry data to study the causal effects of fluoride in drinking water. We exploit exogenous variation in natural fluoride stemming from variation in geological characteristics at water sources to identify its effects. First, we reconfirm the long-established positive effect of fluoride on dental health. Second, we estimate a zero effect on cognitive ability in contrast to several recent debated epidemiological studies. Third, fluoride is furthermore found to increase labor income. This effect is foremost driven by individuals from a lower socioeconomic background.