The National Health Interview Survey 1978-1980 revealed a relationship between smoking behavior and occupations. Among black women, there was little difference in smoking prevalence between occupations. This trend holds true for all categories of workers and for men and women. Clifton Road, NE Atlanta, GA 30333 Health Consequences Black Americans suffer from smoking-related diseases at a higher rate than whites. This trend also is present for incidences of esophagus and oral cavity cancer.
Blacks experience excessive mortality for many tobacco-related cancers.
The death rates for black women are higher than for white women for cancers of the respiratory system, heart disease, and stroke. This ratio is not as high among white men and women. The death rate from smoking for white men is double that for white women. The death rates for white women are higher relative to those of black women. Blacks tend to become ill from smoking at younger ages than do whites.