Lung cancer incidence and air pollution in Erie County, New York

Demographic data on race, sex, age, and address at diagnosis were obtained on the 2,201 lung cancer cases from Erie County, reported to the New York State tumor registry during the period 1973 to 1976. Multivariate regression analysis was done to evaluate the association between age-adjusted race- and sex-specific lung cancer incidence rates by census tracts and air pollution as indexed by total suspended particulates, several trace metals, and benzo(a)pyrene. Total suspended particulates was the strongest ambient air quality variable found to be associated with lung cancer incidence in white males, all males, the white population, and the total population. Regression analyses did not provide any evidence for an association between ambient air trace metals or ambient benzo(a)-pyrene and lung cancer incidence. The findings have provided the basis for some limited conclusions and have offered the opportunity to propose more refined hypotheses.