Lung cancer rates and risk factors in St Bernard Parish, Louisiana: an ecologic study

The white population of St Bernard Parish, Louisiana displays excessive incidence and mortality rates for lung cancer. Examination of 14 years of case reports from the Louisiana Tumor Registry reveals an apparent cluster of high incidence in the rural portion of the parish. Based on a telephone survey, lifestyle risk factors for lung cancer (such as diet and tobacco consumption) appear to vary from one part of the parish to another. Specifically, cigarette smoking is more prevalent in the rural zones, particularly among males over the age of 45. In addition, the index of total vitamin A intake appears to be lowest in the rural zones where lung cancer incidence is highest. Occupational and environmental factors are also considered, but do not seem to vary geographically with lung cancer incidence.