Work

An information intervention in India reduces consumption of arsenic-contaminated drinking water and has small effects on health

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial

Abstract: Contamination of drinking water with toxic arsenic affects more than 170 million people worldwide. Because arsenic is tasteless, colorless, and odorless when mixed with water, almost all people consume it unknowingly and suffer from health impairments (like skin-related diseases or cancer). Running a randomized controlled trial with 2,334 Indian households, we show that providing inexpensive information on how to reduce exposure to arsenic contamination in drinking water has significant effects even 1 year after the intervention. First, it generates knowledge about arsenic's harmful effects. Second, it improves drinking water treatment practices. Third, treated households are between 2.7 and 9.3 percentage points more likely to consume safe drinking water. We also find suggestive evidence for improvements with respect to stomach-related health issues. With costs of <2 euros per disability-adjusted life year averted, our intervention is very cost-effective.

Source: PNAS Nexus

DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag093

Authors: Shambhavi Priyam, Daniel Salicath, Matthias Sutter

Institutions: World Bank, Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, University of Cologne, Universität Innsbruck, Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Economics

Language: English

Topic: Arsenic contamination and mitigation

Subfield: Environmental Chemistry

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Clean water and sanitation, Zero hunger

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $4,202