Epidemiology of lung cancer in the United States.

This paper has reviewed the temporal and spatial distribution of lung cancer in the United States. Some of the personal characteristics which are important determinants of this type of cancer and which need to be considered in assessing the role of environmental air pollution have also been considered. Recent studies which have attempted to relate lung cancer mortality to possible arsenic exposure or to levels of benzo[a]pyrene in different places are noted. While an urban effect is undoubted, it is still not certain that it is due to carcinogenic pollutants in the air. Although there may be exceptional areas, environmental air pollution probably contributes only a very small fraction to the effect of cigarette smoking on this type of cancer.