Lung Cancer Rates have Gone Down in Communities with Strong Smoking Laws

Imposing strong smoke-free workplace laws may lead to a significant decline in lung cancer rates, according to a study published in the journal Cancer. A team of researchers at the University of Kentucky has examined how smoke-free laws affect lung cancer prevalence across the state as part of the study. Data show that Kentucky has more cases of lung cancer than any other state. Likewise, the state has a lung cancer mortality rate that is 50 percent higher compared with the national average. The researchers explain that environmental factors, smoking, and secondhand smoke exposure contribute to the onset of lung cancer.
The research team examined new lung cancer diagnoses among middle aged and older patients living in communities with strong, moderate and weak smoke-free laws. The results show that the incidence of lung cancer is up to eight percent lower in areas with strong smoke-free workplace laws than those without the policy. The experts have also found no difference in lung cancer rates between areas with either weak or moderate smoke-free laws and those without smoking laws.
“Kentucky has one of the highest adult cigarette smoking rates and the highest rate of new lung cancer cases in the nation. Only one-third of Kentuckians are protected by strong smoke-free workplace laws. Local government can play a critical role in preventing lung cancer. Elected officials can ensure that all workers and the public are protected from secondhand smoke by passing strong smoke-free laws with few or no exceptions,” researcher Ellen Hahn tells Science Daily online.
According to the researchers, the findings may promote the creation of policies that focus on establishing more communities with strong smoke-free workplace laws across the state.
“The mission of the UK Markey Cancer Center is to reduce the overwhelming burden of cancer in our state. This new study shows that having strong smoke-free workplace laws in place to prevent exposure to secondhand smoke is one more way we can help protect our citizens from this devastating disease,” Markey director Dr. Mark Evers adds.