The Effect of Leaded Gasoline on Elderly Mortality: Evidence from Regulatory Exemptions

Leaded gasoline is still used globally for aviation and automotive racing. Exploiting regulatory exemptions a novel quasi-experiment, we find that leaded use in racing increases ambient lead, elevated blood lead rates, elderly mortality. The mortality estimates indicate each gram of added to exceeds $1,100 damages. Our setting allows us rule out potential confounders, such as correlated pollutants or socioeconomic status. We provide the first causal linking adult gasoline, highlight value banning on-road present policy-relevant cost at lowest levels date. (JEL I12, J14, L71, Q51, Q53)