6.5 Mapping and geographical variation

The geographical pattern of the relative risk of lung cancer was similar for men and women (Maps 6.1-6.3).

For both sexes combined, areas of higher relative risk were seen in Leinster, including Dublin (north and west), Kildare, Carlow, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Wexford and Westmeath. Belfast city, Derry and Donegal also showed higher relative risk; other scattered areas of higher risk included Cork, Galway, Waterford, Newry and Mourne, Down, Ards, Carrickfergus, Larne and Moyle. In Dublin, the risk was higher in the north and south-west of the city and, in Belfast, in the central city area (Map 6.1).

In Dublin city, the risk was higher on the north side and, in Belfast, in the north and west areas. The pattern for men was similar to that for both sexes combined, due to the higher incidence in men compared to women (Map 6.2).

The pattern for women showed higher relative risk in Leinster, concentrated in Dublin, Kildare, Carlow, Wicklow, Wexford and Louth, and in the Belfast and Derry areas. There were some smaller areas of higher risk in Donegal, Carrickfergus, Newry and Mourne and Down (Map 6.3).