A major new study has found that African American adults living in highly segregated neighborhoods face a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer. The research, which followed over 71,000 participants across 12 southern U.S. states, revealed that reducing residential segregation could lower lung cancer incidence among African Americans—but not among non-Hispanic White individuals.
The study used the isolation index to measure segregation and found that African American participants had a median index of 0.8, compared to 0.2 for White participants. Lowering this index in hypothetical scenarios led to fewer lung cancer cases. For example, reducing segregation to the least segregated quartile was associated with nearly 37 fewer cases per 10,000 people.
Menthol cigarette use emerged as a major factor. Among African Americans, 52.5% primarily smoked menthols, compared to just 17.4% of White participants. Menthol smoking alone accounted for nearly 25% of the link between segregation and lung cancer. Air pollution, secondhand smoke at home, and lower education levels also played significant roles.
Researchers concluded that 47% of the segregation-lung cancer link could be explained by these mediators. However, over half of the risk remained unexplained, pointing to deeper structural issues. “This study suggests the need for urgent policy addressing structural racism and its mediators that prevent lung cancer,” the authors wrote.
See: “Residential Segregation and Lung Cancer Risk in African American Adults” (July 1, 2025)
