OBJECTIVE: To investigate the causes of death in residents living in the area of industrial pollution in Chongqing. METHODS: Mortality rate, sequence of causes of death, years of potential life lost (YPLL) and the valued years of potential life lost (VYPLL) were used to analyze causes of death in 1991 - 1998. Community not polluted by industry was chosen to serve as control. RESULTS: The annual average mortality rate of the residents was 7.34 per thousand (standard mortality rate 4.61 per thousand). The sequence of major causes of death was shown as below: malignant tumors (mortality rate 198.07/10(5), standard mortality rate 126.35/10(5)), cerebrovascular diseases (mortality rate 159.13/10(5), standard mortality rate 92.66/10(5)), respiratory system diseases (mortality rate 107.33/10(5), standard mortality rate 84.85/10(5)), cardiac diseases (mortality rate 95.36/10(5), standard mortality rate 59.37/10(5)) and accidental deaths (mortality rate 47.08/10(5), standard mortality rate 43.28/10(5)). Among malignant tumors, lung cancer took the lead with a mortality rate of 65.49/10(5) (standard mortality rate 45.27/10(5)). In both sequences of standard rates of YPLL and VYPLL for major causes of deaths, accidental death was always took the first place. CONCLUSION: In order to reduce mortality rate of the residents in the area, it is necessary to strengthen the administration of natural and social environment of the area.