Abstract: In order to investigate the association between the death of esophagus cancer(DEC)and smoking and drinking,a 12.5-year-prospective cohort study was carried out in the rural area of Zoucheng City.In June 1982,29 villages from 3 townships were randomly sampled and 15803 male and female adult villagers(aged 20 years or more)were studied.Smoking and drinking status was recorded and the data concerning their death were collected every year.The results were as follows,DEC of smokers of both sexes was 114.87/100000 person year(PY)while it was 52.19/100000 PY for those non-smokers.RR was 2.17,95% CI was 1.53-3.07(Χ²=20.11 P=0.0000073).AR was 61.96/100000 PY.AR% was 53.94%.Significant difference of dose-response relation was observed between the smoking duration and the DEC.(P<0.001).The DEC of drinkers was 103.62/100000 PY while for those non-drinker it was 67.25/100000 PY.RR was 1.53 and 95% CI was 1.08-2.16(Χ²=5.94,P=0.0148).The difference was significant.DEC was rising in accordance with prolonged drinking druaiton(P<0.001),but no significant difference of dose-response relation was found between DEC and the drinking amount.