Social Environment and Cancer Mortality in Men

STUDIES of the geographic distribution of mortality rates from cancer have focused on the physical characteristics of the environment, particularly characteristics of the water supply, levels of background radiation, and proximity to industrial wastes. With the exception of rural–urban and socioeconomic differences,1 little attention has been paid to other qualities of the social environment of neighborhoods, such as demographic composition, marital status, nature of housing, and family structure. The present study examines these variables. It is an extension of earlier research into sociodemographic risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and general mortality.2 , 3 MethodsThis report is based on data from death . . .