Why does Wales have 20% higher cancer incidence than England?

[Walesfirst]

[mummyjojo]

Interesting question...

It would be hard to answer without knowing what causes cancer in the first place, and seeing as nobody is 100% sure about that, there can't really be a definite answer. However, I would speculate:

* Radiaton from Chernobyl - Its known that the radioactivity blew over Wales, and it was only a couple of years ago that North Wales farmers were allowed to start using the hills to farm sheep for food again.

* Rainfall - see the article in the Western Mail here: ceredigion.gov.uk/utilities...

* Smoking - "In Britain, Scotland and Wales had higher smoking prevalence rates, at 25% in 2010, compared with England (20%)" from the office of national statistics

* Do people in Wales eat more red meat than people in England? Are there less vegetarians?

* Is it because the statistics take into account all the miners who are now suffering with lung cancers because of their time in the mines?

I really don't know, but hopefully this gives you something to think on...