On average, women are more avid readers than men. The share of teens who smoke has been rising steadily since 1991. By 1995, the rate had risen to 35 percent. Skin cancer is coming on strong. The risk that an American will develop melanoma during his or her lifetime increased from 1 in 1,500 in 1935 to 1 in 105 in 1992 to 1 in 87 in 1997.
Dermatologists say the reason is a real rise in overexposure to the sun.
Copyright January, February, and March 1997. American Demographics, Ithaca, New York. Reprinted with permission. Page last updated June 22, 1997. This page copyright 1995-97, The Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina.