Determinants of the excessive rates of lung cancer in northeast Florida

Background. Age-adjusted rates of lung cancer among whites, but not blacks, in Duval County (Jacksonville), Florida, have been among the highest: of a ny metropolitan area of the United States for three decades. Methods. We conducted a case-control study, interviewing 507 patients with lung cancer diagnosed from 1993 to 1996 and 1,007 control subjects, randoml y selected from the county population. Results. Cigarette smoking was the dominant cause of lung cancer (odds rati os, 59 among male current smokers; 30 among female current smokers). Both p revalence and intensity of smoking were excessive for whites but less for b lacks when compared with national norms. Little association was found with residential patterns, indices of air quality, or occupation, Risk doubled w ith increased intake of dietary fat and with a family history of lung cance r. Conclusions. Life-style factors, especially smoking, but not environmental factors, appear responsible for the high rates of lung cancer in northeast Florida.