[The epidemiology of lung cancer in the German Federal Republic, with special reference to regional differences (author's transl)].

11 per cent more men and 23 per cent more women died of lung cancer in the German Federal Republic during 1960-1971 than would have been the case if the age structure had remained unchanged. This increase involves exclusively (men) or predominantly (women) the over-65 years age group. It is still showing an upward trend in men and is most pronounced in the 45-74 age group. Mortality from lung cancer differs significantly between the Länder of the Federal Republic. It is highest for both men and women in the City States and is lowest in the less industrialized areas, particularly South Germany. This difference is presumably not entirely population: the particularly marked increase (especially in men) in the Saarland and North-Rhine-Westphalia-Länder with a predominance of heavy industry-suggests that occupational noxae may play a part.