Lung cancer and natural radiation in an Italian province

The possible association between the geological nature of the soil, as related to radioactivity, and lung cancer occurrence has been explored in an Italian province. Lung cancer mortality rates for the period '69-'78, in population 35-74 years old, have been calculated for two areas with different lithological features and radioactivity levels. Direct standardization has been used to take into account possible confounding factors such as age, degree of urbanization and cigarette sales. The area with high background radioactivity levels has higher lung cancer mortality rates in both sexes but the results are not statistically significant.