Cancer of the lung and los-angeles-type air pollution.Prospective study

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted in Los Angeles California in an attempt to answer the question of whether longterm residents of Los Angeles at comparable smoking levels have a higher rate of pulmonary cancer than the longterm residents of other metropolitan areas of California. Questionnaires on cigarette smoking status residence history and other characteristics were mailed to men of the California Division of the American Legion. Subsequent checking of this population against the California mortality records for 1959 through 1962 revealed the number of deaths including those due to cancer of the lung and provided 336571 man years of observation. The pulmonary cancer gradient by smoking level was less pronounced than that found in other studies. Los Angeles and Bay Area and San Diego - the 2 major metropolitan areas - had higher mortality rates for cancer of the lung than remaining mixed rural and urban counties and these differences were relatively greater among nonsmokers. With controls for smoking and length of residence the risk of pulmonary cancer in Los Angeles where photochemical air pollution levels are highest was not greater than in Californias other major metropolitan areas.