Cancer and Total Mortality Among Active Mormons: Insights for Asbestos-Related Legal Claims
Abstract The study "Cancer and Total Mortality Among Active Mormons" by James E. Enstrom, published in Cancer in 1978, investigates cancer and total mortality rates among active Mormon males in California and Utah. Using church records for 15,500 California Mormons (1968–1975) and 55,000 Utah Mormons (1970–1975), the study reveals that active Mormon males exhibit significantly lower age-adjusted death rates compared to U.S. white males. Specifically, the cancer mortality rate for active Mormon males aged 35 and above is 60% lower, and the total mortality rate is 50% lower. These findings are attributed to the Mormon lifestyle, which emphasizes abstinence from smoking, alcohol, and other harmful substances, as well as adherence to a healthy diet and other positive health practices.
Legal Relevance This study provides valuable insights for asbestos-related legal claims, particularly in cases involving individuals with healthy lifestyles. The findings highlight the significant role of lifestyle factors, such as non-smoking, in reducing cancer and mortality risks. For plaintiffs, this study can be used to demonstrate that their asbestos exposure, rather than other risk factors like smoking, was a primary contributor to their disease. Key legal applications include:
Establishing Causation: The study supports the argument that individuals with healthy lifestyles, such as non-smokers, have a lower baseline risk of cancer. This strengthens the case that asbestos exposure was a significant and direct cause of the plaintiff’s illness.
Countering Defense Claims: Defense attorneys often argue that smoking or other lifestyle factors contributed to the development of asbestos-related diseases. This study provides evidence that non-smoking individuals, like active Mormons, have significantly reduced cancer risks, making asbestos exposure a more likely cause.
Highlighting Occupational History: The study underscores the importance of a detailed occupational and environmental exposure history to establish the link between asbestos exposure and disease. It can be used to argue that the plaintiff’s healthy lifestyle would have otherwise protected them from cancer, emphasizing the role of asbestos as the primary risk factor.
Occupation Groups at Risk The study indirectly reinforces the heightened risk of asbestos-related diseases among certain occupational groups. These groups often face prolonged and intense exposure to asbestos, making them particularly vulnerable:
These occupations are frequently cited in asbestos-related litigation due to the significant exposure risks they entail.
Current Medical Understanding The study aligns with current medical knowledge that lifestyle factors, such as avoiding smoking and alcohol, play a critical role in reducing cancer and mortality risks. However, it also highlights that these factors alone cannot fully explain the reduced mortality rates among active Mormons. Modern research has expanded on these findings, emphasizing the multifactorial nature of cancer development, including genetic predispositions, environmental exposures, and occupational hazards like asbestos. The study’s focus on lifestyle factors complements contemporary understanding by illustrating how healthy behaviors can mitigate, but not eliminate, the risks associated with carcinogenic exposures.
Citation Enstrom, J. E. (1978). Cancer and total mortality among active Mormons. Cancer, 42(4), 1943-1951. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-0142(197810)42:4<1943::aid-cncr2820420437>3.0.co;2-l
National Library of Medicine Link For additional details, visit the National Library of Medicine’s page for the study: Cancer and Total Mortality Among Active Mormons.
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