Flight crews, particularly flight attendants and pilots, face a heightened risk of radiation-related cancers compared to individuals working with radioactive materials, as indicated by a recent study. Cosmic radiation originating from space, though minimal on Earth’s surface, poses a greater exposure risk to individuals flying at high altitudes.
The research, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, utilized national data from over 12 million death certificates containing occupational details. The study examined cancer death rates associated with radiation exposure, including leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and various other types of cancers.
Among more than 500 professions, flight attendants exhibited the highest percentage of deaths from radiation-related cancers, followed by pilots. Both groups showed significantly elevated odds of succumbing to radiation-related cancers, with no notable increase in non-radiation-related cancer death rates.
The study challenges the assumption that flight crews’ elevated skin cancer risk stems from sunny layovers, suggesting that cockpit exposure may be a more critical factor. Flight attendants had approximately 50% higher odds of dying from radiation-related cancers compared to the general working population, while pilots had around 36% higher odds.
The limitations of the study include the lack of individual exposure measurements for flight attendants and pilots, along with potential misclassification of occupations on death certificates. The authors highlighted the methodological challenge of disentangling multiple exposures like cosmic radiation, UV-A light, and circadian disruption.
The study authors recommended heightened awareness of cancer risks among flight crews, emphasizing the need for regular skin examinations, early mammograms for female crew members, and increased vigilance for cancer during medical evaluations. The lack of federal dose limits or monitoring for radiation exposure among aircrews was also underscored as a concern, indicating a need for enhanced safety measures in the aviation industry.
