Air pollution and trajectories of adolescent conduct problems: the roles of ethnicity and racism; evidence from the DASH longitudinal study

PURPOSE: No known UK empirical research has investigated prospective associations between ambient air pollutants and conduct problems in adolescence. Ethnic minority children are disproportionately exposed to structural factors that could moderate any observed relationships. This prospective study examined whether exposure to PM(2.5) and NO(2) concentrations is associated with conduct problems in adolescence, and whether racism or ethnicity moderate such associations. METHODS: Longitudinal associations between annual mean estimated PM(2.5) and NO(2) concentrations at the residential address and trajectories of conduct problems, and the potential influence of racism and ethnicity were examined school-based sample of 4775 participants (2002–2003 to 2005–2006) in London, using growth curve models. RESULTS: Overall, in the fully adjusted model, exposure to lower concentrations of PM(2.5) and NO(2) was associated with a decrease in conduct problems during adolescence, while exposure to higher concentrations was associated with a flattened trajectory of conduct symptoms. Racism amplified the effect of PM(2.5) (β = 0.05 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.10, p < 0.01)) on adolescent trajectories of conduct problems over time. At higher concentrations of PM(2.5), there was a divergence of trajectories of adolescent conduct problems between ethnic minority groups, with White British and Black Caribbean adolescents experiencing an increase in conduct problems over time. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the intersections between air pollution, ethnicity, and racism are important influences on the development of conduct problems in adolescence. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00127-021-02097-7.