HEALTH FACTS
From Dickinson College Wiki
Health Facts
CANCER[2]
- From 1992 to 1999, the average annual incidence rate per 100,000 for cancer was 526.6 for African Americans and 480.4 for whites.
- African American rank highest among all minority groups in the US in mortality rates due to cancer.
- Only accidents and homicides kill more African Americans than cancer.
- African American men are more than 140% more likely to die from cancer than White men.
- More White women are affected by breast cancer, yet Black women are 28% more likely to die from the disease.
- People living in metropolitan areas have a 12% greater risk of dying form lung cancer than those living in non-metropolitan regions.
Asthma[2]
- The asthma rate among African Americans is 38% greater than Whites.
- Black children are five times more likely to die from asthma than white children.
- Asthma is one of the leading cause of school absenteeism in the US
Lead Poisoning[2]
- African American Children are five times more likely to have lead poisoning.
- More than 14% of black children who live in older houses have elevated blood lead levels
- 22% of Black children living in houses built before 1946 get lead poisoning compared to 6% of White children living in similar housing.
