Air pollution and lung cancer

Abstract

To investigate the effects of air pollution on lung cancer, we carried out surveys of the rates for visits to physicians using receipts from the National Health Insurance Plan and of lung cancer mortality rates using death certificates. The rates of visits to physicians for lung cancer were proportional to the degree of air pollution within a given area, but when compared with the control area, no significant difference was found. Several years after air pollution increased markedly in Yokkaichi City, the lung cancer mortality showed rising tendencies, but no significant correlation between lung cancer mortality and the level of specific pollutants was found. Compared to the control area, lung cancer mortality rates were slightly higher and increasingly younger ages of deaths from lung cancer in the polluted area were observed. Furthermore, a higher death rate from lung cancer was found among those smoking more than 21 cigarettes per day than among nonsmokers.