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

46 Pages Posted: 11 May 2022 Last revised: 28 May 2022

See all articles by Khushboo Aggarwal

Khushboo Aggarwal

University of Delhi

Rashmi Barua

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Marian Vidal-Fernandez

IZA - Institute for the Study of Labor; The University of Sydney - School of Economics

Date Written: May 9, 2022

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

Suggested Citation

Aggarwal, Khushboo and Barua, Rashmi and Vidal-Fernandez, Marian and Vidal-Fernandez, Marian, Still Waters Run Deep: Groundwater Arsenic Contamination and Education Outcomes in India (May 9, 2022). Life Course Centre Working Paper No. 2022-08, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4103829 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4103829

Khushboo Aggarwal

University of Delhi ( email )

University Road
Kirti Nagar
Delhi, DE New Delhi 110 007
India

Rashmi Barua (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Marian Vidal-Fernandez

IZA - Institute for the Study of Labor ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

The University of Sydney - School of Economics ( email )

Rm 370 Merewether (H04)
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW 2006 2008
Australia

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