We use population-level data of all Flordia children born between 1994 and 2002 to examine the long-term effect f prenatal exposure to environmental toxicants from a Superfund (toxic waste) site. We compare siblings who faced different toxic exposures during gestation because of Superfund site cleanup (or, in other specifications, because of a family move). Children exposed to toxic waste while gestating have substantially worse cognitive and behavioral outcoes thatn do their unaffected siblings. These results are much larger than what would have been predicted were the effects Superfund site exposure operating solely through standard measrues of birth outcomes.

Published Oct 3, 2019

Persico, C., Figlio, D., & Roth, J. (2019). The Developmental Consequences of Superfund Sites. Journal of Labor Economics. https://doi.org/10.1086/706807