PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Hollingsworth, Alex
AU  - Huang, Jiafang Mike
AU  - Rudik, Ivan
AU  - Sanders, Nicholas J.
TI  - A Thousand Cuts
AID  - 10.3368/jhr.0222-12169R2
DP  - 2025 May 01
TA  - Journal of Human Resources
PG  - 950--976
VI  - 60
IP  - 3
4099  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/60/3/950.short
4100  - http://jhr.uwpress.org/content/60/3/950.full
AB  - We study how lead exposure impacts learning in elementary school using a natural experiment where a national automotive racing organization switched from leaded to unleaded fuel. Increased lead exposure harms academic performance, shifting the entire performance distribution, and negatively impacting both younger and older children. For a given total quantity of exposure, the marginal impacts of lead appear greater when spread over more years. The average treated student loses $5,200 of future income in present-value terms. This effect is similar to reducing class size by three students or increasing school spending per pupil by $750.