This site is closed! The effect of decommissioning mining waste facilities on mortality in the long run

Abstract

Mining is typically linked to industrial development. However, waste generated by mineral extraction is a major source of environmental deterioration. This poses a trade-off between preserving the environment and fostering growth. We assess the long-run consequences of reduced exposure to mining waste on health by exploiting municipality-level variation in the staggered closure of facilities that treat and store mining waste in Italy over the course of five decades. We find that shutting down waste facilities decreases decadal mortality by 126 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (i.e., by nearly 15%), while also improving the literacy and employment rates of the resident population. Our results point to positive health effects dominating potentially negative wealth effects.