Statewide, Iowa (RI) – Public health experts who attended the Iowa Cancer Summit in Ankeny last month say raising the tobacco tax and putting more money towards radon mitigation can help address the state’s high cancer rates.
Iowa Cancer Registry director Mary Charlton says the state lawmakers need to raise the tobacco tax by at least one dollar.
The 2025 Iowa Cancer Registry estimates lung cancer will cause the most cancer deaths in the state this year. Lung cancer is also the third most common type of cancer for new cases in the state.
The report estimates there will be more than 2,500 new cases of lung cancer in the state this year. Charlton says radon is a mitigating factor for lung cancer.
Charlton says the public needs to understand environmental and agricultural exposures are important but so are lifestyle habits like smoking, drinking and using tanning beds.
KIWA Staff Photo
