Do Low Levels of Blood Lead Reduce Children’s Future Test Scores?
This study examines the link between preschool blood
lead levels with third grade test scores of Rhode Island
children born between 1997 and 2005. The data shows that
reductions of lead from even historically low levels have
significant positive effects on children’s reading test scores in
third grade.
The estimates suggest that a one unit decrease in average blood
lead levels reduces the probability of being substantially below
proficient in reading by 3.1 percentage points. Poor and minority
children are more likely to be exposed to lead, suggesting that
lead poisoning may be one of the causes of continuing gaps in
test scores between disadvantaged and other children.