Doll and Peto: quantitative estimates of avoidable cancer risks

What changed

Synthesized epidemiological evidence across exposure categories and produced bounded quantitative estimates of the proportions of United States cancer mortality attributable to potentially avoidable causes.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact 1981 Journal of the National Cancer Institute review and its contemporary estimates. It does not convert those estimates into universal causal fractions or current global burdens; later reassessments remain separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact 1981 Journal of the National Cancer Institute review and its contemporary estimates. It does not convert those estimates into universal causal fractions or current global burdens; later reassessments remain separate.

Contributors

• Richard Doll · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Richard Peto · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• PubMed record for Doll and Peto cancer-risk estimates
• Crossref record for Doll and Peto 1981

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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