Lung Cancer in Coastal Georgia: A Death Certificate Analysis of Occupation: Brief Communication 1

ABSTRACT-A comparison of death certificate statements on occupation for 858 white males who lived In coastal Georgia counties and who died of lung cancer during 1961-74, and for 858 controls who were of the same age and county of residence revealed a twofold excess risk of lung cancer associated with the construction Industry. No elevated risk of lung cancer was found for workers In the wood and paper Industries In the urban areas of Savannah, Brunswick, or Waycross, but a threefold Increase was uncovered for the remaining coastal counties where the wood and paper Industry was the largest employer.-J Natl Cancer Inst 60: 295-298, 1978. Mortality rates for lung cancer have been reported to be exceptionally high among white male residents in a series of counties along the Southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States (l, 2). As a preliminary step in the investigation of this excess risk, a study was made of occupations listed on the death certificates of persons who lived in Georgia coastal counties and who died of lung cancer. METHODS From computerized listing of deaths maintained by the State of Georgia for the years 1961-74, we identified 858 deaths attributed to primary lung cancer among white male residents of the following 12 coastal counties