Flight crew members, including flight attendants and pilots, face a higher risk of radiation-related cancers compared to individuals working with radioactive materials, reveals a recent study. Cosmic radiation originating from space, though limited on Earth’s surface, poses increased exposure risks to those operating at high altitudes.
The study, featured in JAMA Internal Medicine, examined over 12 million death certificates with occupational data, focusing on cancer death rates associated with radiation exposure. Results showed that among more than 500 occupations, flight attendants had the highest percentage of radiation-related cancer deaths, followed by pilots. Both groups exhibited elevated odds of death from various radiation-related cancers, with no abnormal rates for non-radiation-related cancers.
The study challenges the assumption that flight crews’ skin cancer risks stem from sun exposure during layovers, highlighting cockpit environments as potential key exposure settings. Flight attendants showed a 50% higher likelihood of dying from radiation-related cancers compared to the general workforce, while pilots had a 36% higher risk. The absolute risk of radiation-related cancer deaths was approximately 6.9% for flight attendants and 6.7% for pilots, exceeding the 5% rate in the general working population.
Limitations acknowledged by the authors include the inability to quantify individual exposures or potential misclassification of occupations on death certificates. The study emphasized the challenge of evaluating multiple concurrent exposures like cosmic radiation, UV-A light, and circadian disruption.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s recognition of ionizing radiation exposure among aircrews lacks federal dose limits or monitoring requirements, raising concerns about unmeasured exposures. Calls for heightened awareness and management of radiation exposure in flight crew members have been emphasized, urging regular skin examinations, earlier mammograms for women in these roles, and increased vigilance for cancer during medical evaluations of pilots and flight attendants.
