AIR POLLUTION AND LUNG CANCER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30116, 27 April 1963, Page 10

AIR POLLUTION AND LUNG CANCER

Research by Dr. F. A de Hamel, deputy medical officer of health in Christchurch, has tailed to reveal any link between air pol’ ition and lung cancer in North Canterbury

The work was a pilot study undertaken for the air pollution sub-committee of the Christchurch Regional Planning Authority to see whether a full-scale investigation was needed Overseas reports had indicated that in some circumstances the incidence of lung cancer might be increased significantly by air pollution, and the sub-committee wished to check that this was not so in Christchurch Dr. de Hamel took as the basis for bis work the home addresses of 324 Canterbury primary lung cancer victims from the last 10 yet.-s The number from the Christchurch urban area was slightly greater, proportionately, than from rural districts: but within the city itself there was no significant difference between the incidence of lung cancer tn different suburbs, even though the amount of air pollution varied widely This was true not only for the whole group of cases but for each sex and age group The number of lung cancer cases in Christchurch in proportion to population was almost exactly the same as the Dominion average, although the city has more genera] air pollution than any other in New Zealand.

The difference in lung cancer incidence between town and country in North Canterbury might be the result of heavier cigarette smoking by urban dwellers, perhaps because of increased stresses facing city workers and the more ready availability of cigarettes in the city. Dr de Hamel suggested Another cause could be the tendency —observed by Dr. D. F. Eastcott—of immigrants in the over-30 age groups to congregate in the city .rather than the country.