In a hospital-based case-control study conducted between 1989 and 1992 in Hessen (West Germany) 300 cases (239 male and 61 female) of histologically confirmed cancer of the lower urinary tract (LUT) were individually matched to controls from the same hospitals with respect to sex, age and area of residence. Smoking of cigarettes was associated with an elevated risk of 2.80 in males (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.65-4.76) and 5.33 (95% CI: 1.55-18.33) in females, as compared with nonsmokers. Variables like daily amount of smoked cigarettes, duration of smoking, age at beginning of cigarette smoking and time since smoking cessation showed a clear dose- and time-response relationship in males, but not in females. Elevated risks were observed for higher consumption of coffee, beer and wine, but - especially for the consumption of coffee were drastically reduced after adjustment for smoking. A weak association was found between the daily fluid intake and bladder cancer in males. Among females a significantly decreased odds ratio (OR) of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.11-0.99) was found for a daily fluid intake of more than two liters. Protective effects and risk reductions of approximately 50% were found for the regular intake of raw carrots, kale, salads and fruits. The findings of this investigation support an association between lifestyle factors and cancer of the lower urinary tract.