Smoking and lung cancer in Shanghai

The effect of smoking on lung cancer and other diseases in Shanghai is described. The tar yield of cigarettes consumed by the residents is still high. About half of the male adults in Shanghai are smokers. The prevalence of smoking varies with level of education and occupation. The new generation tends to start smoking earlier. Lung cancer ranks second after stomach cancer, but the incidence rate for lung cancer has increased considerably in recent years. It is estimated that the population attributable risk (PAR) of smoking for lung cancer is 80.5% for males and 19.3% for females. There is an urgent need to adopt effective measures against smoking in the general public.