Introduction:
Smoking is one of the main factors that increase the risk of lung cancer1. It is assessed that about 90% of lung cancer cases are related to tobacco smoking2. In 2018 about 25 500 lung cancer cases could be avoided if no one smoked3. The latent period for lung cancer is estimated at 10 to 30 years4. The aim of the study was the analysis the relationship between the number of smoked cigarettes per person and lung cancer mortality in various Poland regions.

Material and Methods:
Maps at the county level were prepared on the basis of the average crude rate for mortality in Poland in the years 1980-1984, 1990-1994, and 2014-2018. For each map (within sex), the scale remained the same. The data in the map of smoking frequency come from the period 1985-1988 and was presented according to the administrative division at that period.

Results:
Among men, a particular mortality peak of deaths occurred in the years 1990-1994. Among women, it can be seen that the mortality rate increases in the following decades. Both sexes have a different range of values – mortality among women is about three times lower. The highest mortality in both sexes could be observed in North-Western Poland. It indicates a strong relationship between areas with the highest number of smoked cigarettes per person in 1985-1988 and mortality in the next observed periods. The same regions have the highest amount of smoked cigarettes and the highest mortality.

Conclusions:
The harmfulness of smoking is visible after 10-15 years. Therefore, it is necessary to promote educational campaigns that would influence the incidence of lung cancer in the coming decades especially among women.