Investigating the Association of White Male Lung Cancer Mortality and State of Residence

THOMAS J. DOKER Investigating the Association of White Male Lung Cancer Mortality and State of Residence (Under the direction of MICHAEL P. ERIKSEN) Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death. Most lung cancer is the result of a preventable cause, smoking. Nevertheless, U.S. tobacco production remains the fourth highest globally. This study examined the spatial aspects of U.S. White male lung cancer mortality and the associated risk factors of tobacco acreage, rural residence, smoking, poverty, lack of health insurance, and radon exposure. White male lung cancer mortality was significantly correlated with tobacco acreage (r = .455), rural residence (r = .389), and smoking (r = .475). Tobacco acreage (p = .005), rural residence (p = .011), and smoking (p = .030) remained significant with regression analysis. In qualitative analysis using a Geographic Information System, clustering was evident for all factors but only tobacco acreage correlated well spatially with White male lung cancer mortality. Tobacco-growing states were shown to have statistically higher lung cancer mortality 20 years later among White males. The causes for this mostly preventable cause of death need further investigation in order to target effective public health interventions.