Mortality From Stomach Cancer in Coal Mining Regions

Abstract

To evaluate reported correlations between stomach cancer and coal mining in Utah, we compared mortality for gastric cancer in 23 coal mining counties in seven states of the United States during 1950 to 1969 with other counties, matched by educational level. Observed deaths were 20% to 30% greater than expected for men and women (P < .01), but a similar excess was noted for other cancers related to low socioeconomic class (lung, cervix). Conversely, significantly fewer deaths than expected occurred for neoplasms related to high social class (leukemia, breast, and colon). Thus, it is suggested that the correlation is with socioeconomic class rather than with occupation.