Still Waters Run Deep: Groundwater Arsenic Contamination and Education Outcomes in India

Abstract

We study the effect of exposure to arsenic in groundwater, the main source of arsenic contamination, on a range of education outcomes among children in India. First, using a large nationally representative household survey and exploiting variation in soil textures across districts as an instrument for arsenic, we find that arsenic exposure beyond the safe threshold level is negatively associated with school attendance. Second, to support our initial findings, we surveyed students in public schools in one of the most arsenic contaminated regions of India and exploited variation in the geographical coverage and timing of construction of government water supply schemes. We find that prolonged exposure to contaminated water sources increases school absenteeism, grade retention, and decreases test scores. Moreover, detrimental effects are larger among girls, exacerbating an already underlying health gender disadvantage in childhood.

Keywords: Arsenic, children, water, test scores, India