Research finds more than one in four cancer deaths are tied to smoking

A new study ranks Nebraska 39th in the nation for cancer deaths linked to cigarettes.

The American Cancer Society study shows cigarettes contribute to more than one in four cancer deaths in the country.

Researchers analyzed health surveys and government data from 2014 and estimated that 27.1% of the cancer deaths in Nebraska were linked with smoking.

The rate is much higher in southern states where tobacco control policies are more lax and smoking is more common.

According to a recent survey, 18.9% of Nebraskans smoke, just below the national rate of 19.7%.