Impacts of air pollution on child growth: Evidence from extensive data in Chinese counties

Despite extensive research on the detrimental effects of air pollution on health, limited focus has been directed toward the impact of air pollution on child growth. Utilizing comprehensive data spanning 2759 Chinese counties from 2000 to 2018, this study pioneers an empirical investigation of the causal link between air pollution and child growth. The findings reveal a significant correlation between air pollution and child growth; as air pollution worsens, child growth suffers, evident in stunting, underweight, wasting, and severe wasting. More specifically, the effects of PM_2.5 on stunting, underweight, and severe wasting can persist for up to six years, while its impact on wasting endures for three years. Vulnerable groups include older children, girls, and less-developed geographical regions. Environmental regulations like “Low-Carbon Cities” and “Air Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan” have yielded positive growth outcomes. Mechanistically, PM_2.5 impairs child growth via metabolic disruption and financial constraints. Collectively, this study offers empirical evidence of the adverse impacts of air pollution on child growth while proposing suggests strategies for addressing this challenge in developing countries.