Cancer of the respiratory system in Circumpolar Inuit

Abstract

Cancer incidence of the nasal cavities in Inuit men are high (ASR = 3.0 1984-1988), and higher than seen in Denmark, Connecticut (USA) and Canada. Lung cancer incidence is among the highest in the world, for both men and women, and larynx cancer among the lowest. The smoking pattern among Inuit, possibly combined with co-factors related to environment and diet, are believed to be the relevant causal factors.