In the upcoming decade, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to replace all lead pipes in the country. One of the driving forces behind this shift is Ronnie Levin, a leading researcher who conducted a cost-benefit analysis on lead exposure in 2023. This study compared the costs of health issues related to lead exposure, such as cognitive impairment and increased health risks like hypertension and preterm birth, with the cost of mitigating lead. The EPA estimated that the annual health benefits of the rule would be $645 million, with an implementation cost of $335 million, resulting in a benefit-to-cost ratio of 2 to 1.
Levin’s work on lead in drinking water dates back to the 1980s when she conducted a cost-benefit analysis that revealed a significant portion of Americans were consuming unsafe levels of lead in their water. This analysis led to a 1991 rule aimed at reducing the amount of lead and copper in drinking water. Levin has been instrumental in pushing for change in this area and continues to advocate for stronger measures to protect public health from the dangers of lead exposure.
As an instructor at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s department of environmental health, Levin has been a strong advocate for lead mitigation throughout her career. She was surprised by the EPA’s agreement to such an ambitious goal and believes that the Biden Administration’s interest in lead has also played a role in speeding up the process of change. Levin’s analysis relied on EPA data, assumptions, and estimates to make a compelling case for lead mitigation, making it difficult for the government to dispute her research. While she is excited about the new rule, Levin emphasizes that effective implementation and enforcement are crucial for ensuring its success.
Recently, Levin and her collaborator Joel Schwartz discovered that mitigating lead in American water could save over $8 billion per year in health benefits and at least $2 billion more in infrastructure costs, resulting in a benefit-to-cost ratio of 35 to 1.
In conclusion, Ronnie Levin’s work has been instrumental