Analysis of a community-based case-control study of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) among Malaysian urban Chinese in Selangor revealed several statistically significant risk factors for both sexes that indicate a high risk for NPC is associated with those lifestyle is based on low socio-economic status. Sixty NPC patients, and 150 non-NPC control subjects drawn from the general Chinese population of Selangor, were compared as individuals and in the content of their families, residential settings, daily activity settings and occasional settings away from the daily local range. The objective was to investigate the self-specific environments of case and control subjects as a way to identify some characteristics of the environment of NPC. High risk factors for males were time spent in industrial workplaces and in squatter and poor quality low-cost housing, and for females time spent in office and rural workplaces and in zones of high air pollution. High risk factors for NPC families were use of only one language and ethnic cuisine, wood fuel for cooking, and lack of modern amenities and possessions, such as cars, refrigerators and electric fans. Among matched case and control subjects there was a high risk for time spent in older urban areas, in low-lying riverine sites, in older housing and in district with more industry. Data for frequency of consumption of food items for a week were not consistent in results from meal to meal but case families ate less bread, vegetables, fresh fruit, meat and soup than control families. Differences between case and control subjects of families by subethnic group (Cantonese, Hakka and Hokkien-Teochiu) were generally not significant, and where differences occurred they followed the incidence pattern: highest among Cantonese, least among Hokkien-Teochiu, with the Hakka in between. Correlation analysis revealed no confounding between NPC, subethnic group and socioeconomic variables, These findings suggest that NPC is more likely to occur among Chinese who follow more traditional lifestyles under poorer economic circumstances, who live in older, poor quality housing in districts with more industry, heavier traffic, and least green space, who eat few fresh foods and have little variety in meals.