TY - JOUR T1 - A Thousand Cuts: Cumulative Lead Exposure Reduces Academic Achievement JF - Journal of Human Resources JO - J Hum Resour DO - 10.3368/jhr.0222-12169R2 SP - 0222-12169R2 AU - Alex Hollingsworth AU - Jiafang Mike Huang AU - Ivan Rudik AU - Nicholas J. Sanders Y1 - 2022/10/07 UR - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/early/2022/10/03/jhr.0222-12169R2.abstract N2 - We study how ambient lead exposure impacts learning in elementary school by leveraging a natural experiment where a large national automotive racing organization switched from leaded to unleaded fuel. We find increased levels and duration of exposure to lead negatively affect academic performance, shift the entire academic performance distribution, and negatively impact both younger and older children. The average treated student in our setting has an expected income reduction of $5,200 in present value terms. Avoiding said treatment has an effect size similar to improving teacher value added by one-fourth of a standard deviation, reducing class size by 3 students, or increasing school spending per pupil by $750. The marginal impacts of lead are larger in impoverished, non-white counties, and among students with greater duration of exposure, even after controlling for the total quantity of exposure. ER -