BRATISLAVA (SITA) Life expectancy largely depends on living conditions. In 1996, life expectancy of male babies born in Slovakia was 68 years, while it was 76.5 years for baby girls. In countries of the European Union, these figures are 74 years for boys and 80 years for girls. Infant mortality in Slovakia dropped to below 10 per thousand, which is close to infant morality in the most developed European countries. However, the overall health condition of the population in Slovakia remains unsatisfactory. The average age of the population in Slovakia now is 33 for men and 36 for women. Three times more men die between the age of 35 to 55 than do women. The risk trend is, however, moving to younger age categories for both men and women. Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are the cause of death of 76 percent of men in Slovakia. Besides improper living habits and bad working conditions, negative environmental factors (30 percent) have contributed t o this. The number of allergies continues to grow. Currently one in four children suffers from some immune system disorder or an allergy.