China

Focusing on China, this study investigates relationships between ambient air pollution and birth and early developmental outcomes for children and considers how risk is mitigated or amplified for different population groups. We also study the impacts of climatic hazards and air pollution on birth outcomes and early child development outcomes, with attention to gender and socioeconomic disparities in risk as well as potential exacerbating or compensating impacts of family resources and processes. The prenatal and early childhood periods are extremely vulnerable phases of life, but the implications of early, high levels of air pollution for children’s development, and how they are affected by social and economic context, are poorly understood. This project will offer insights into the rising global public health challenges associated with climate change and air pollution exposures among infants and children. Further, findings regarding the differential risks and impacts of exposure across gender and socioeconomic groups, and about effectiveness of avoidance behaviors and compensatory investments, can inform policymakers and clinicians about the design and targeting of interventions and thereby contribute to the general well-being of society. The study makes use of administrative data, pollution monitoring data, climate data, and a purpose-designed cohort survey (in progress). This project in on-going and in progress.

Team Members

• Jere Behrman*
• Xinyin Chen
• Kai Feng
• Emily Hannum*
• Marco Laghi
• Jianghong Liu
• Jia Miao
• Fan Wang*
• Xiaogang Wu*
• Xiuqi Yang

*=PI/co-PI/lead on grants supporting the project.

Research

• Liu, Xiaoying, Jere Behrman, Emily Hannum, Fan Wang, and Qingguo Zhao. 2022. “Same Environment, Stratified Impacts? Air Pollution, Extreme Temperatures, and Birth Weight in South China.” Social Science Research, February, 102691. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2021.102691,  University of Pennsylvania Population Center Working Paper (PSC/PARC), 2021-60.
• Liu, Xiaoying, Huazhang Miao, Jere R. Behrman, Emily Hannum, Zhijiang Liang, and Qingguo Zhao. 2022. “The Asian Games, Air Pollution and Birth Outcomes in South China: An Instrumental Variable Approach.” Economics & Human Biology 44 (January): 101078. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101078,  University of Pennsylvania Population Center Working Paper (PSC/PARC), 2021-72.
• Policy Brief:  Darova, Ornella (Policy Brief Preparer). “Policy Brief: The Asian Games, Air Pollution and Birth Outcomes in South China.” Penn Development Research Initiative PDRI-4. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania. https://pdri.upenn.edu/policy_brief/pdri-policy-brief-4-the-asian-games-air-pollution-and-birth-outcomes-in-south-china/.