Troesken, Werner. 2008. “Lead Water Pipes and Infant Mortality at the Turn of the Twentieth Century.” Journal of Human Resources 43(3): 553–575.
In 1897, about half of all American municipalities used lead pipes to distribute water. Employing data from Massachusetts, this paper compares infant death rates in cities that used lead water pipes to rates in cities that used nonlead pipes. In the average town in 1900, the use of lead pipes increased infant mortality by 25 to 50 percent. However, in cities using new pipes and distributing acidic water, lead pipes increased infant mortality three- to four-fold. Qualitative evidence supports the econometric results and indicates the adverse effects of lead extended beyond Massachusetts.
Werner Troesken is a professor of economics at the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. This research was supported by a grant from the NIH, AG10120-09A1. Claudia Linares and Paula Canavese provided research assistance at an early stage of this project. The author thanks conference participants at the NBER, and seminar participants at Columbia University and Princeton University, especially Chris Paxson, Anne Case, and Angus Deaton. Two anonymous referees provided helpful comments as well. The usual disclaimer applies. The data used in this article can be obtained beginning January 2009 through December 2012 from Werner Troesken, Department of Economics, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, wtroeske@gmu.edu.