Smoking takes harsher toll on black men.

Though African American men and white men smoke cigarettes at roughly the same rate--25.5 % compared with 23.6%--black men are 37% more likely to develop lung cancer and are 22% more likely to die from it. For black women, lung cancer occurs at roughly the same rate as it does in white women, according to an American Lung Association report. Though the reason for the disparity is unclear, it appears to be the result of a confluence of factors such as genetics and access to healthcare.

EDITED BY DEBORAH CREIGHTON SKINNER

SKINNERD@BLACKENTERPRISE.COM

Lung Cancer Incidence Rates

        African American   White   Native American/Alaska Native
              44.9         64.4              74.7

MEN           25.5         23.6              42.3
WOMEN         18.0         20.6              22.4

Note: Table made from bar graph.