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Toxic Chemical Releases, Health Effects, and Productivity Losses in the United States

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Abstract

In this paper we examine the impacts of toxic chemical releases on labor productivity. The hypothesis is that exposure to releases results in chronic or acute illnesses, which increases number of work days lost. To test the hypothesis we combine data from the National Health Interview Survey with data from US Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory, using an instrumental variable approach to control for endogeneity of subjective binary health status. We find that the survey respondents are significantly more likely to have increased work days lost as their exposure to toxic releases increases and that work days lost increase at an increasing rate with diminished health status.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Human Resource Research, The Ohio State University, 921 Chatham Lane, Columbus, OH, 43221, USA

    Chau-Sa Ho

  2. Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, Auburn University, 209B Comer Hall, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA

    Diane Hite

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  1. Chau-Sa Ho
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  2. Diane Hite
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Correspondence to Chau-Sa Ho.

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Ho, CS., Hite, D. Toxic Chemical Releases, Health Effects, and Productivity Losses in the United States. J Community Health 34, 539–546 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9180-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-009-9180-6

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