[The effect of air pollutants on the incidence of lung tumors in the GDR].

On the basis of the data from the National Cancer Registry in the GDR an investigation was made, concerning the relationship between exposure to different levels of air pollution and lung cancer incidence. Estimates for the exposure to major factors of air pollution as sulfur dioxide, sedimentation dust and a global air index were calculated for each county of the GDR. The statistical comparison of these data with respect to the age-adjusted incidence rates of the corresponding counties for the time period 1978 to 1982 have not shown any differences neither in man nor in woman. On the other side a positive correlation to the per caput consumption of cigarettes was found.