Declining lung cancer mortality of young Australian women despite increased smoking is linked to reduced cigarette 'tar' yields

Lung cancer data were examined to determine whether the mortality rates of young Australian women have continued to increase in line with the proporti ons of them who have smoked tobacco. Trends in annual age-specific lung can cer mortality were estimated for 1965-1998. Age-specific mortality rates an d age-adjusted ratios of mortality rates were calculated far birth cohorts. Proportions of smokers in those cohorts were estimated from results of eig ht national surveys of smoking, and their mean ages of commencement and yea rs of smoking were assessed from surveys of smokers in two states. Lung can cer mortality rates of 20-44-year-old Australian women peaked in 1986. Age- adjusted mortality rates are lower for women born in the 1950s and 1960s th an for women born in the 1940s, despite higher proportions of smokers, youn ger age of commencement and longer duration of smoking by age 30 years in t he more recent cohorts. increased smoking has not resulted in higher lung c ancer mortality far Australian women born in the 1950s and 1960s. Reduction s in tar yields of Australian-made cigarettes, which would have affected pr imarily those born after the 1940s, may be responsible. (C) 2001 Cancer Res earch Campaign.