Flight attendants and pilots face the highest risk of dying from radiation-related cancers among more than 500 US occupations, according to a study published by JAMA Internal Medicine. Analyzing over 12 million death certificates, researchers found flight attendants have roughly 50 percent higher odds of dying from these cancers compared to the general working population.
Understanding Occupational Cosmic Radiation Exposure at Altitude
Commercial airline crews operate at high altitudes where Earth’s atmosphere provides significantly less protection against cosmic radiation originating from space. While the general working population sees 5 percent of deaths attributed to radiation-linked cancers, absolute risk is about 6.9 percent for flight attendants and 6.7 percent for pilots, according to Dr. Vishal Patel of Harvard Medical School, the study’s first author. Evaluated causes of death included leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and cancers of the skin, breast, thyroid, prostate, and central nervous system.
Two Australian radiation experts not involved in the research, Catherine Olsen and Ken Karipidis, noted in an accompanying commentary that neither pilot nor flight attendant cohorts showed higher-than-normal death rates from cancers that aren’t tied to radiation exposure. According to their written assessment, this observation points to work-related radiation exposure—rather than socioeconomic status or personal lifestyle choices—as the primary driver behind the elevated rates.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Ionizing Radiation: Aircrews are exposed to ionizing radiation due to high-altitude flight.
- Absolute Risk vs. Relative Odds: While flight attendants face roughly 50 percent higher odds of dying from these specific cancers than the general working population, the absolute risk translates to about 1 in 14 deaths within the profession.
- Potential Contributing Variables: Study authors note that cancer risks can potentially be exacerbated by frequent disruptions to circadian rhythms, which stem from alternating time zones, persistent jet lag, and unconventional shift patterns.
Regulatory Oversight and the Information Gap in Aircrew Safety
Despite acknowledging that aircrews are exposed to ionizing radiation, the Federal Aviation Administration does not set federal dose limits or require monitoring, the authors noted. “You can’t manage an exposure you’ve decided not to measure,” Patel emphasized via email correspondence.
Head of the 55,000-member Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, Sara Nelson remarked that the new findings validate the union’s long-standing position that radiation dangers demand serious attention. “The risk is known, but crew are not educated or informed. And, no one is taking responsibility,” Nelson noted.
| Occupational Group | Relative Odds vs. General Public | Estimated Percentage of Total Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendants | ~50% higher odds | 6.9% (~1 in 14 deaths) |
| Pilots | ~36% higher odds | 6.7% |
| General Working Population | Baseline | 5% |
Contraindications & When to Consult a Doctor
Olsen and Karipidis suggested that individuals working high-altitude aviation roles might benefit from yearly dermatological skin checks, while female crew members could consider starting mammography screenings earlier or scheduling them more frequently. Doctors who care for pilots and flight attendants also should have a “heightened index of suspicion” for cancer when evaluating these patients, they said.
References
- Occupational Mortality from Radiation-Linked Cancers in Aviation Crews. JAMA Internal Medicine.
- Commentary: Assessing Cosmic Radiation and Cancer Risks at Altitude. JAMA Internal Medicine.
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Cosmic Radiation Exposure. U.S.
Keep reading
- Rare Plant Thought Extinct for 60 Years Rediscovered in Australia
- Judge Strikes Down Trump-Era Visa Ban on 75 Countries
- Exorbitant Excise Duties: How Ireland’s High Alcohol Taxes Impact Consumers and the Economy” Key Search Terms: – Alcohol excise duty – Ireland’s excise taxes – Europe’s highest excise duties – Impact of excise taxes on consumers – Economic effects of high tax on alcohol (archyworldys.com)
