SOME LIFE-STYLE FACTORS IN HUMAN LUNG-CANCER - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY OF 792 LUNG-CANCER CASES

In order to investigate the relationship between some lifestyle factor s and lung cancer, a case-control study involving all lung cancer deat hs registered in 1986 was performed. The results show that among males , 92.5% of the cases and 75.5% of controls were smokers, implying that cigarette smoking is a primary risk factor for lung cancer in males. By contrast, among females only 60.6% of the cases and 30.8% of the co ntrols were smokers, implying factors other than cigarette smoking mus t be involved in the development of lung cancer in females. The risk o f lung cancer in nonsmoking females was found to be unaffected by expo sure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). A study of diet and eating habits showed that in males the risk of lung cancer was reduced by the intake of vegetables and fruits, but was significantly increased by a frequent intake of fried foods. The positive association between the intake of fried food and the risk of lung cancer could result from coo king practices and from inappropriate methods used in food preparation . No association can be demonstrated between the consumption of high p rotein or high fat diets, salty and smoked food items and the incidenc e of lung cancer. Thus, it is not likely that sufficient lung cancer i nducing carcinogens can be generated through the intake of food. In ad dition, the positive association found to exist between the living ind ex and the risk of lung cancer in females is consistent with the notio n that coal smoke or cooking practices may generate sufficient indoor air pollutants to significantly increase the risk of lung cancer in fe males.