PNAS Science Sessions Air pollution and economic mobility
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Nov 25, 2024 Francesca Dominici, a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health professor specializing in environmental health, joins researcher Luca Merlo to discuss their groundbreaking study on air pollution's impact on economic mobility. They uncover how childhood exposure to PM2.5 pollution can significantly hinder upward mobility in adulthood. The conversation reveals stark regional disparities, particularly affecting marginalized communities. They advocate for stricter air quality regulations and emphasize the need for policies that link environmental health to economic opportunities.
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Air Pollution and Economic Mobility
- PM2.5's impact on health is well-documented, but its effects on economic opportunities are less understood.
- This study investigates the link between childhood PM2.5 exposure and reduced job prospects/earnings.
Measuring Upward Mobility
- The study uses absolute upward mobility, focusing on children born 1978-1983 from low-income families.
- It tracks the average income rank of these children and their spouses between 2014-2015 (ages 31-37).
Impact of PM2.5
- Childhood exposure to PM2.5 is linked to lower economic mobility in adulthood.
- This effect was observed across the US.