Flight attendants and pilots face the highest risk of dying from cancers linked to radiation exposure, surpassing even those working with radioactive materials, a recent study shows. Cosmic radiation, originating from space, is minimal at ground level but increases significantly at high altitudes, affecting frequent flyers like pilots and flight attendants.
Research published by JAMA Internal Medicine utilized data from over 12 million death certificates, focusing on occupations. The study analyzed death rates from cancers associated with radiation such as leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and various other cancers. Flight attendants showed the highest percentage of deaths from radiation-related cancers, followed closely by pilots. These findings suggest extreme vulnerability in these occupations to cancers connected with radiation exposure.
The study highlighted that neither pilots nor flight attendants exhibited elevated death rates from non-radiation-related cancers. Australian radiation experts Catherine Olsen and Ken Karipidis emphasized this as evidence that occupational radiation exposure, rather than lifestyle or socioeconomic factors, is a key risk factor.
Specifically, flight attendants had approximately 50% higher odds of dying from these cancers compared to the general workforce, while pilots had about 36% greater odds. In absolute terms, 6.9% of flight attendant deaths and 6.7% of pilot deaths were attributed to such cancers, with the general working population at 5%, according to Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School.
The study admitted limitations. It couldn’t quantify individual flight attendants’ or pilots’ exposure or account for other factors like misclassified occupations on death certificates or cancer risk exacerbated by disrupted body clocks due to jet lag and irregular schedules.
The Federal Aviation Administration recognizes the exposure of aircrews to ionizing radiation, yet no federal dose limits or monitoring mandates are established. Dr. Patel noted, “You can’t manage an exposure you’ve decided not to measure.”
Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, highlighted the lack of education and accountability regarding radiation risks. She noted that radiation exposure needs significant attention, and crew members are not informed about these dangers.
Annual skin checks could be crucial for high-altitude flight workers, and women in these roles might need earlier or more regular mammograms, Olsen and Karipidis suggested. Physicians treating these individuals should maintain an increased vigilance for cancer symptoms.