This work investigates the quantitative contribution of various environmental and lifestyle factors to the incidence of cancer in the United States. The authors, Richard Doll and Richard Peto, utilize extensive epidemiological data and statistical analysis to categorize avoidable risks, providing a framework for understanding cancer causation beyond genetic predisposition. Their analysis aims to clarify the distinction between known risk factors and areas requiring further empirical investigation.

Experts recognize this text as a foundational document in the field of cancer epidemiology for its rigorous statistical approach to public health. Readers frequently note the clarity of the prose, which makes complex epidemiological data accessible to students and researchers alike.