From childhood to adulthood: persistence of environmental exposure to PM2.5

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ABSTRACT This article investigates the persistence of environmental exposure to PM 2.5 across life stages. Using restricted data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the instrumental variable analysis shows that childhood environmental exposure has significant effects on later-life environmental exposure. The results hold whether we measure environmental exposure in terms of PM 2.5 ranks or absolute concentration levels. Our findings contribute to the extensive literature on intergenerational mobility and highlight the importance of further research to better understand the mechanisms behind the persistence, as well as policies to disrupt such persistence across generations.